<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0001127602-14-024889
<TYPE>4
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>1
<PERIOD>20140805
<FILING-DATE>20140806
<DATE-OF-FILING-DATE-CHANGE>20140806
<ISSUER>
<COMPANY-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>BAKER HUGHES INC
<CIK>0000808362
<ASSIGNED-SIC>3533
<IRS-NUMBER>760207995
<STATE-OF-INCORPORATION>DE
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>1231
</COMPANY-DATA>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>2929 ALLEN PARKWAY
<STREET2>SUITE 2100
<CITY>HOUSTON
<STATE>TX
<ZIP>77019-2118
<PHONE>7134398600
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>PO BOX 4740
<CITY>HOUSTON
<STATE>TX
<ZIP>77210-4740
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</ISSUER>
<REPORTING-OWNER>
<OWNER-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>BORRAS MARIA C
<CIK>0001588503
</OWNER-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>4
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>001-09397
<FILM-NUMBER>141020993
</FILING-VALUES>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>2929 ALLEN PARKWAY, SUITE 2100
<CITY>HOUSTON
<STATE>TX
<ZIP>77019
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</REPORTING-OWNER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>form4.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
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            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock, $1.00 Par Value</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>3026</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>6053</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>47.75</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2014-08-05</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>3398</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F8"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2023-07-24</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock, $1.00 Par Value</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>3398</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>6798</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The price reported in Column 4 is a weighted average price. These shares were sold in multiple transactions at prices ranging from $68.8201 - $68.83, inclusive. The reporting person undertakes to provide to Baker Hughes Incorporated, any security holder of Baker Hughes Incorporated, or the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission, upon request, full information regarding the number of shares sold at each separate price within the range set forth in this footnote.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The price reported in Column 4 is a weighted average price. These shares were sold in multiple transactions at prices ranging from $68.72 - $68.7201, inclusive. The reporting person undertakes to provide to Baker Hughes Incorporated, any security holder of Baker Hughes Incorporated, or the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission, upon request, full information regarding the number of shares sold at each separate price within the range set forth in this footnote.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">The price reported in Column 4 is a weighted average price. These shares were sold in multiple transactions at prices ranging from $68.71 - $68.7162, inclusive. The reporting person undertakes to provide to Baker Hughes Incorporated, any security holder of Baker Hughes Incorporated, or the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission, upon request, full information regarding the number of shares sold at each separate price within the range set forth in this footnote.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">The price reported in Column 4 is a weighted average price. These shares were sold in multiple transactions at prices ranging from $68.65 - $68.68, inclusive. The reporting person undertakes to provide to Baker Hughes Incorporated, any security holder of Baker Hughes Incorporated, or the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission, upon request, full information regarding the number of shares sold at each separate price within the range set forth in this footnote.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">The price reported in Column 4 is a weighted average price. These shares were sold in multiple transactions at prices ranging from $68.59 - $68.62, inclusive. The reporting person undertakes to provide to Baker Hughes Incorporated, any security holder of Baker Hughes Incorporated, or the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission, upon request, full information regarding the number of shares sold at each separate price within the range set forth in this footnote.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F6">The price reported in Column 4 is a weighted average price. These shares were sold in multiple transactions at prices ranging from $68.55 - $68.59, inclusive. The reporting person undertakes to provide to Baker Hughes Incorporated, any security holder of Baker Hughes Incorporated, or the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission, upon request, full information regarding the number of shares sold at each separate price within the range set forth in this footnote.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F7">Share balance has been reduced by 10.971 shares which were voluntarily and erroneously reported on January 2, 2014, as shares acquired pursuant to the Company's Dividend Reinvestment Plan.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F8">Option vested/vests in three equal annual installments beginning on the date of grant.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Lee Whitley, Attorney-in-Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2014-08-06</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SUBMISSION>
