-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000940863-04-000003.txt : 20041104
<SEC-HEADER>0000940863-04-000003.hdr.sgml : 20041104
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20041104162250
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000940863-04-000003
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20041102
FILED AS OF DATE:		20041104
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20041104

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MACE SECURITY INTERNATIONAL INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000912607
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	INDUSTRIAL ORGANIC CHEMICALS [2860]
		IRS NUMBER:				030311630
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1000 CROWFORD PLACE
		STREET 2:		SUITE 400
		CITY:			MOUNT LAUREL
		STATE:			NJ
		ZIP:			08054
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8567782300

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		160 BENMONT AVE
		CITY:			BENNINGTON
		STATE:			VT
		ZIP:			05201

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			PAOLINO LOUIS D JR
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000940863
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			NJ
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-22810
		FILM NUMBER:		041119931

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1000 CROWFORD PLACE
		STREET 2:		SUITE 400
		CITY:			MT LAUREL
		STATE:			NJ
		ZIP:			08054
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8567782300

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1000 CRAWFORD PLACE
		STREET 2:		SUITE 400
		CITY:			MT LAUREL
		STATE:			NJ
		ZIP:			08054
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-11-02</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000912607</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>MACE SECURITY INTERNATIONAL INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>mace</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0000940863</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>PAOLINO LOUIS D JR</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1000 CRAWFORD PLACE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 400</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>MT LAUREL</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NJ</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>08054</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>CEO, President &amp; Chairman</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>option, right to buy</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>4.21</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-11-02</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>568182</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2004-11-02</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2009-11-02</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>568182</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2891640</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Options, right to buy.  No price paid.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Beneficial ownership remained the same because the 568,182 options represented in this filing replace 568,182 warrants that expired on October 29, 2004.  The expired warrants had an exercise price of $2.75.  The new option's exercise price is $4.21.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Louis D. Paolino, Jr.</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-11-04</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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