<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001127602-18-008608.txt : 20180227
<SEC-HEADER>0001127602-18-008608.hdr.sgml : 20180227
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20180227104842
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001127602-18-008608
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20180223
FILED AS OF DATE:		20180227
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20180227

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ETKIND ANDREW R
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001239784

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-31983
		FILM NUMBER:		18643434

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1200 E 151 ST ST
		CITY:			OLATHE
		STATE:			KS
		ZIP:			66062

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			GARMIN LTD
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001121788
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SEARCH, DETECTION, NAVIGATION, GUIDANCE, AERONAUTICAL SYS [3812]
		IRS NUMBER:				980229227
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			V8
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		MUHLENTALSTRASSE 2
		CITY:			SCHAFFHAUSEN
		STATE:			V8
		ZIP:			CH-8200
		BUSINESS PHONE:		41 52 630 1600

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		MUHLENTALSTRASSE 2
		CITY:			SCHAFFHAUSEN
		STATE:			V8
		ZIP:			CH-8200
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>form4.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2018-02-23</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001121788</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>GARMIN LTD</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>GRMN</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001239784</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>ETKIND ANDREW R</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>MUEHLENTALSTRASSE 2</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SCHAFFHAUSEN</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>V8</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>8200</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription>SWITZERLAND</rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <officerTitle>VP, General Counsel, Secretary</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Registered Shares</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2018-02-23</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>20000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>50.97</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>65494</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Registered Shares</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2018-02-23</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>18071</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>60.39</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>47423</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Registered Shares</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2018-02-23</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1929</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>60.61</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>45494</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Registered Shares</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2018-02-25</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>4281</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>49775</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Registered Shares</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2018-02-25</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1213</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F5"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>60.35</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>48562</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F6"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Appreciation Right</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>50.97</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2018-02-23</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>20000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F7"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2018-06-06</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Registered Shares</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>20000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Includes 13,142 unvested shares acquired pursuant to previously granted restricted stock unit awards and 69 shares acquired by the reporting person in December 2017 under the Garmin Ltd. Employee Stock Purchase Plan</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Consists of (i) 16,881 shares withheld to cover the exercise price of the stock appreciation rights and (ii) 1,190 shares withheld to pay the resulting tax liability.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Shares acquired pursuant to a restricted stock units award granted in February 2017 that had both performance-based and time-based vesting conditions. The performance-based vesting conditions have been satisfied, and now the award is subject only to time-based vesting conditions. The award vests in three equal annual installments beginning on February 25, 2018.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">Includes 13,142 unvested shares acquired pursuant to previously granted restricted stock unit awards and the 4,281 unvested shares acquired pursuant to the restricted stock units award described in Footnote 3.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">1,427 shares that were acquired by the reporting person pursuant to the restricted stock units award described in Footnote 3 and 1,927 shares that were acquired by the reporting person pursuant to another previously granted restricted stock units award vested and were paid to the reporting person. Of these shares, 1,213 shares were withheld to pay a resulting tax liability.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F6">Includes  11,215 unvested shares acquired pursuant to previously granted restricted stock units awards and 2,854 remaining unvested shares acquired pursuant to the restricted stock units award described in Footnote 3.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F7">The stock appreciation right vested in five equal annual installments commencing on June 6, 2009.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Andrew R. Etkind</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2018-02-27</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
