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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 T1TlH4FW9yxprVXEaWUNunKf4T6M0ufqelyaYZXDLbqCY3v49Vrrtb/TDEBVYRQl
 YJGPsGLUkIfNiWkEoIEBpA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001104659-04-000020.txt : 20040102
<SEC-HEADER>0001104659-04-000020.hdr.sgml : 20040101
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040102130721
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001104659-04-000020
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031231
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040102

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			POWELL BOONE JR
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001232973

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-02189
		FILM NUMBER:		04500749

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		16825 NORTHCHASE DRIVE
		CITY:			HOUSTON
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			77060

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ABBOTT LABORATORIES
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000001800
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	PHARMACEUTICAL PREPARATIONS [2834]
		IRS NUMBER:				360698440
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			IL
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		100 ABBOTT PARK ROAD
		STREET 2:		D-322 AP6D
		CITY:			ABBOTT PARK
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60064-3500
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8479376100
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>a4.xml
<DESCRIPTION>4
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
  <periodOfReport>2003-12-31</periodOfReport>
  <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000001800</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ABBOTT LABORATORIES</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>ABT</issuerTradingSymbol>
  </issuer>
  <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001232973</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>POWELL BOONE JR</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>9209 WESTVIEW CIRCLE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>DALLAS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>TX</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>75231</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
      <isDirector>1</isDirector>
      <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
      <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
      <isOther>0</isOther>
    </reportingOwnerRelationship>
  </reportingOwner>
  <derivativeTable>
    <derivativeTransaction>
      <securityTitle>
        <value>Stock equivalent units</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <conversionOrExercisePrice>
        <value>0</value>
        <footnoteId id="F1"/>
      </conversionOrExercisePrice>
      <transactionDate>
        <value>2003-12-31</value>
      </transactionDate>
      <transactionCoding>
        <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
        <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
        <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
      </transactionCoding>
      <transactionTimeliness>
        <value></value>
      </transactionTimeliness>
      <transactionAmounts>
        <transactionShares>
          <value>268</value>
        </transactionShares>
        <transactionPricePerShare>
          <value>46.60</value>
        </transactionPricePerShare>
        <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
          <value>A</value>
        </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
      </transactionAmounts>
      <exerciseDate>
        <footnoteId id="F1"/>
      </exerciseDate>
      <expirationDate>
        <footnoteId id="F1"/>
      </expirationDate>
      <underlyingSecurity>
        <underlyingSecurityTitle>
          <value>common shares</value>
        </underlyingSecurityTitle>
        <underlyingSecurityShares>
          <value>268</value>
        </underlyingSecurityShares>
      </underlyingSecurity>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
        <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
          <value>11978</value>
          <footnoteId id="F2"/>
        </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
        <directOrIndirectOwnership>
          <value>D</value>
        </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
    </derivativeTransaction>
  </derivativeTable>
  <footnotes>
    <footnote id="F1">Director fees deferred and credited to a stock equivalent unit account under a grantor trust established by the director and paid, in cash, generally at age 65 or upon retirement from the board.  The stock equivalent units earn the same return as if the fees were invested in Abbott stock.</footnote>
    <footnote id="F2">Balance includes stock equivalent units acquired pursuant to a dividend reinvestment feature.</footnote>
  </footnotes>
  <ownerSignature>
    <signatureName>John A. Berry, Attorney-in-Fact for Boone Powell, Jr.</signatureName>
    <signatureDate>2004-01-02</signatureDate>
  </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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