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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 Q21OemNifvpBft9xcFrnK89RH22tp4hItrcRnzMNj8+JWt4P7St7zSxKdlSWLAOu
 iJAifMl00HJKgW7pBU+FlQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001328603-06-000001.txt : 20060124
<SEC-HEADER>0001328603-06-000001.hdr.sgml : 20060124
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20060124134331
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001328603-06-000001
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20060120
FILED AS OF DATE:		20060124
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20060124

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ESPINOSA FERNANDO
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001253688

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-14330
		FILM NUMBER:		06545828

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O POLYMER GROUP INC
		STREET 2:		4838 JENKINS AVE
		CITY:			N CHARLESTON
		STATE:			SC
		ZIP:			29405

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			POLYMER GROUP INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000927417
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	BROADWOVEN FABRIC MILS, MAN MADE FIBER & SILK [2221]
		IRS NUMBER:				571003983
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0103

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		4055 FABER PLACE DR., SUITE 201
		CITY:			NORTH CHARLESTON
		STATE:			SC
		ZIP:			29405
		BUSINESS PHONE:		843-329-5151

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		4055 FABER PLACE DR., SUITE 201
		CITY:			NORTH CHARLESTON
		STATE:			SC
		ZIP:			29405
</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>2006-01-20</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000927417</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>POLYMER GROUP INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>POLGA.OB</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001253688</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>ESPINOSA FERNANDO</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O POLYMER GROUP INC</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>4838 JENKINS AVE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>N CHARLESTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>SC</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>29405</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>VP &amp; Gen. Manager, Latin Amer.</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class A Common Stock</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2006-01-20</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>19300</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>19300</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">(1) The shares of restricted stock were granted to the reporting person on 1/20/06 pursuant to Rule 16b-3.  Of these 19,300 shares, 15,000 of such shares vested immediately upon grant.  The remaining shares vest as follows:  (i) 1,760 shares will vest in four equal annual installments, subject to achievement of certain performance measures, beginning with fiscal 2005 performance and subject to earlier vesting upon a change of control of the issuer; and (ii) of the remaining 2,540 shares, 25% of such shares vest immediately and the balance will vest in three equal annual installments beginning on 1/20/07, subject to earlier vesting upon a change of control of the issuer.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Fernando Espinosa</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2006-01-24</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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