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

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4/A</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-09-21</periodOfReport>

    <dateOfOriginalSubmission>2004-09-22</dateOfOriginalSubmission>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000902270</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>DEPARTMENT 56 INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>DFS</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001199895</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>KING REATHA C</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O DEPARTMENT 56, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>6436 CITY WEST PARKWAY</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>EDEN PRAIRIE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MN</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>55344</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-09-21</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>357</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>15.44</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>938</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Family Trust</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">This filing amends and corrects the initial filing in its entirety.  Total holdings and nature of ownership are revised to reflect the shares are held indirectly by a Family Trust and includes additional shares inadvertently omitted from the original filing.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks>Footnote 1.  This filing amends and corrects the initial filing in its entirety.  Total holdings and nature of ownership are revised to reflect the shares are held indirectly by a Family Trust and includes additional shares inadvertently omitted from the original filing.</remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Julie Wingert, attorney in fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-11-18</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
