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

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2008-11-15</periodOfReport>

    <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>2008-11-15</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1666618</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>1.88</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>30170671</value>
                </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>2469506</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. (&quot;WCVC&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="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">BB PURCHASED 1,666,618 SHARES OF COMMON STOCK FROM THE COMPANY BY SURRENDERING PROMISSORY NOTES PAYABLE TO BB FROM THE COMPANY.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>CARL E. BERG, AS AN INDIVIDUAL, AS MANAGER OF BB, AND AS PRESIDENT OF WCVC</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-11-20</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
