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

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-12-27</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001227728</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>POLAROID HOLDING CO</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>NONE</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0000019617</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>J P MORGAN CHASE &amp; CO</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>270 PARK AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10017</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001267274</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Banc One Financial LLC</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1 BANK ONE PLAZA</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>CHICAGO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>IL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>60670</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001266796</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>JP Morgan Capital CORP</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1 BANK ONE PLAZA</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>CHICAGO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>IL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>60670</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0000906104</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>BANK ONE INVESTMENT CORP</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1 BANK ONE PLAZA</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>CHICAGO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>IL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>60670</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001266797</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>OEP HOLDING CORP</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1 BANK ONE PLAZA</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>CHICAGO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>IL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>60670</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001266798</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>ONE EQUITY PARTNERS LLC</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>320 PARK AVENUE, 18TH FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10022</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001287062</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>OEP CO INVESTORS LLC</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>320 PARK AVENUE 18TH FL</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10022</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Series A Cumulative Compounding Preferred Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-12-27</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>D</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>135901.25</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>101.69</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See footnotes</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F5"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F6"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F7"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F8"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Gives effect to the redemption by Polaroid Holding Company of all outstanding shares of its Series A 8.0% Cumulative Compounding Preferred Stock on the redemption date of December 27, 2004.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">OEP Co-Investors LLC (&quot;OEP Co-Investors&quot;) has direct beneficial ownership of 1,621.1 shares of Series A 8.0% Cumulative Compounding Preferred Stock. OEP Co-Investors disclaims beneficial ownership of the 134,280.15 shares of Series A 8.0% Cumulative Compounding Preferred Stock held directly by One Equity Partners LLC.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">One Equity Partners LLC (&quot;OEP&quot;) has direct beneficial ownership of 134,280.15 shares of Series A 8.0% Cumulative Compounding Preferred Stock.  OEP disclaims benefical ownership of the 1,621.1 shares of Series A 8.0% Cumulative Compounding Preferred Stock held directly by OEP Co-Investors.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">OEP Holding Corporation (&quot;OEP Holding&quot;) may be deemed to own beneficially and indirectly 135,901.25 shares of Series A 8.0% Cumulative Compounding Preferred Stock by virtue of its control over the managing members of both OEP and OEP Co-Investors.  OEP Holding disclaims beneficial ownership of the securities reported herein except to the extent of its pecuniary interest therein.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">Bank One Investment Corporation (&quot;BOIC&quot;) may be deemed to own beneficially and indirectly 135,901.25 shares of Series A 8.0% Cumulative Compounding Preferred Stock by virtue of its ownership of all the outstanding capital stock of OEP Holding.  BOIC disclaims beneficial ownership of the securities reported herein except to the extent of its pecuniary interest therein.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F6">JPMorgan Capital Corporation (&quot;JPM CC&quot;) may be deemed to own beneficially and indirectly 135,901.25 shares of Series A 8.0% Cumulative Compounding Preferred Stock by virtue of its ownership of all the outstanding capital stock of BOIC.  JPM CC disclaims beneficial ownership of the securities reported herein except to the extent of its pecuniary interest therein.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F7">Banc One Financial LLC (&quot;BOF LLC&quot;) may be deemed to own beneficially and indirectly 135,901.25 shares of Series A 8.0% Cumulative Compounding Preferred Stock by virtue of its ownership of all the outstanding capital stock of JPM CC.  BOF LLC disclaims beneficial ownership of the securities reported herein except to the extent of its pecuniary interest therein.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F8">JPMorgan Chase &amp; Co. (&quot;JPMC&quot;) may be deemed to own beneficially and indirectly 135,901.25 shares of Series A 8.0% Cumulative Compounding Preferred Stock by virtue of its ownership of all the outstanding capital stock of BOF LLC.  JPMorgan Chase &amp; Co. disclaims beneficial ownership of the securities reported herein except to the extent of its pecuniary interest therein.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>See Exhibit 99</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-02-17</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
