<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4/A</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2008-02-27</periodOfReport>

    <dateOfOriginalSubmission>2008-02-25</dateOfOriginalSubmission>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000885551</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>VALENCE TECHNOLOGY INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>VLNC</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0000901719</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>BERG CARL E</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O BERG &amp; BERG DEVELOPERS</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>10050 BANDLEY DR</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>CUPERTINO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>95014</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>COMMON STOCK</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-02-21</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>280112</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>3.57</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>27101310</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>COMMON STOCK</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>23415720</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>COMMON STOCK</value>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1969506</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">THESE SECURITIES ARE OWNED BY BERG &amp; BERG ENTERPRISES, LLC (&quot;BB&quot;), A MEMBER OF THE REPORTING GROUP.  THE DESIGNATED BENEFICIAL OWNER DISCLAIMS BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP EXCEPT TO THE EXTENT OF THEIR RESPECTIVE PECUNIARY INTERESTS THEREIN.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">THESE SECURITIES ARE OWNED BY WEST COAST VENTURE CAPITAL, INC., A MEMBER OF THE REPORTING GROUP.  THE DESIGNATED BENEFICIAL OWNER DISCLAIMS BENEFICIAL OWNERHSIP EXCEPT TO THE EXTENT OF THEIR RESPECTIVE PECUNIARY INTERESTS THEREIN.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">THESE SECURITIES ARE OWNED BY CARL E. BERG, THE DESIGNATED BENEFICIAL OWNER FOR THE REPORTING GROUP.  THE DESIGNATED BENEFICIAL OWNER DISCLAIMS BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP EXCEPT TO THE EXTENT OF HIS RESPECTIVE PECUNIARY INTERESTS THEREIN.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">PURSUANT TO THE TERMS OF A LETTER AGREEMENT DATED FEBRUARY 21, 2008 BY AND BETWEEN BB AND VALENCE TECHNOLOGY, INC. (THE &quot;COMPANY&quot;), BB AGREED TO PURCHASE $1.0 MILLION OF THE COMPANY'S COMMON STOCK AT A PRICE TO BE DETERMINED BASED ON THE COMMON STOCK'S CLOSING BID PRICE ON FEBRUARY 27, 2008.  AS SUCH, THIS AMENDED FORM 4 INCLUDES (I) AMOUNT OF SECURITIES ACQUIRED, (II) THE PRICE, AND (III) THE AMOUNT OF SECURITIES OWNED FOLLOWING THE REPORTED TRANSACTION.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>CARL E. BERG, AS AN INDIVIDUAL, AS MANAGER OF BB, AND AS PRES. OF WCVC</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-02-28</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
