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

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2005-02-18</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000948069</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>CUTTER &amp; BUCK INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>CBUK</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001295984</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Pirate Capital LLC</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>200 CONNECTICUT AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>4TH FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NORWALK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CT</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>06854</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>common equity</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-02-18</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>300</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>14.9</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1337390</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>see footnote 1</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The securities beneficially owned by the Reporting Person are held directly by the Jolly Roger Fund LP, a private partnership for which the Reporting Person serves as general partner, Jolly Roger Offshore Fund LTD, a British Virgin Islands international business company for which the Reporting Person serves as investment advisor and Mint Master Fund LTD, a managed account for which the Reporting Person serves as an investment advisor (collectively, the &quot;Funds&quot;). The Reporting Person is deemed to be indirect beneficial owner of the securities reported by reason of its position as general partner and investment adviser, as applicable, of the Funds, and its pecuniary interest in such shares (within the meaning of Rule 16a-1(a)(2) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) is a fractional interest in such amount. The Reporting Person disclaims beneficial ownership of any and all such amounts in excess of such actual pecuniary interest.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Pirate Capital LLC; By: Thomas R. Hudson Jr</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-02-22</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
