-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 NAgKpdlfFBSyk7XVsl9AdeEj93l3wu9+lvceuXQiKWfWvg5/o2uzmghjELIpXRaC
 AcghVwfYEQIuvBs/9Zj3jg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001035064-04-000004.txt : 20041203
<SEC-HEADER>0001035064-04-000004.hdr.sgml : 20041203
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20041203142836
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001035064-04-000004
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20041119
FILED AS OF DATE:		20041203
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20041203

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:			KRAMER ROBERT M
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001035064
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			PA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-22810
		FILM NUMBER:		041183173

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1000 CRAWFORD PL
		STREET 2:		SUITE 400
		CITY:			MT LAUREL
		STATE:			NJ
		ZIP:			08054
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2152426688

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		8212 SEMINOLE ST
		CITY:			PHILADELPHIA
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			19118
</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>2004-11-19</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001035064</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>KRAMER ROBERT M</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>8212 SEMINOLE ST</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>PHILADELPHIA</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>PA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>19118</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Executive VP, General Counsel</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>option, right to buy</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>5.35</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-11-19</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>75000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2014-11-19</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>75000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>487324</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">37,500 shares vest immediately, and 37,500 shares vest on June 29, 2005.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Option, right to buy.  No price paid.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Robert M. Kramer</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-12-03</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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