<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
  <periodOfReport>2003-10-15</periodOfReport>
  <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000911149</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>MICRO COMPONENT TECHNOLOGY INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>MCTI</issuerTradingSymbol>
  </issuer>
  <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001206020</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>GOWER ROGER E</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>66 DORCHESTER WAY</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NASHUA</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NH</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>03060</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
      <isDirector>1</isDirector>
      <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
      <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
      <isOther>0</isOther>
      <officerTitle>President</officerTitle>
    </reportingOwnerRelationship>
  </reportingOwner>
  <derivativeTable>
    <derivativeTransaction>
      <securityTitle>
        <value>Employee Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <conversionOrExercisePrice>
        <value>1.27</value>
      </conversionOrExercisePrice>
      <transactionDate>
        <value>2003-10-15</value>
        <footnoteId id="F1"/>
      </transactionDate>
      <transactionCoding>
        <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
        <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
        <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
      </transactionCoding>
      <transactionTimeliness>
        <value></value>
      </transactionTimeliness>
      <transactionAmounts>
        <transactionShares>
          <value>200000</value>
        </transactionShares>
        <transactionPricePerShare>
          <value>0</value>
        </transactionPricePerShare>
        <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
          <value>A</value>
        </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
      </transactionAmounts>
      <exerciseDate>
        <value>2004-09-16</value>
      </exerciseDate>
      <expirationDate>
        <value>2013-09-16</value>
      </expirationDate>
      <underlyingSecurity>
        <underlyingSecurityTitle>
          <value>Common Stock</value>
        </underlyingSecurityTitle>
        <underlyingSecurityShares>
          <value>200000</value>
        </underlyingSecurityShares>
      </underlyingSecurity>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
        <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
          <value>711250</value>
        </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
        <directOrIndirectOwnership>
          <value>D</value>
        </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
    </derivativeTransaction>
  </derivativeTable>
  <footnotes>
    <footnote id="F1">The option was granted on September 16, 2003.  Pursuant to the terms of the plan, the exercise price is the closing sale price on October 15, 2003.  The option becomes exercisable in two equal annual installments beginning with September 16, 2004.</footnote>
  </footnotes>
  <ownerSignature>
    <signatureName>/s/ Roger E. Gower,  by Thomas P. Maun, pursuant to Power of Attorney dtd 2003-07-16</signatureName>
    <signatureDate>2003-10-15</signatureDate>
  </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

