<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001127602-17-033507.txt : 20171130
<SEC-HEADER>0001127602-17-033507.hdr.sgml : 20171130
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20171130133407
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001127602-17-033507
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20171128
FILED AS OF DATE:		20171130
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20171130

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ALGER EUGENE K
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001232713

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-13468
		FILM NUMBER:		171230734

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1015 THIRD AVENUE
		CITY:			SEATTLE
		STATE:			WA
		ZIP:			981041190

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			EXPEDITORS INTERNATIONAL OF WASHINGTON INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000746515
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	ARRANGEMENT OF TRANSPORTATION OF FREIGHT & CARGO [4731]
		IRS NUMBER:				911069248
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			WA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1015 THIRD AVENUE 12TH FLOOR
		CITY:			SEATTLE
		STATE:			WA
		ZIP:			98104
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2066743400

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1015 THIRD AVENUE 12TH FLOOR
		CITY:			SEATTLE
		STATE:			WA
		ZIP:			98104
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>form4.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
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    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2017-11-28</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000746515</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>EXPEDITORS INTERNATIONAL OF WASHINGTON INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>EXPD</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001232713</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>ALGER EUGENE K</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1015 THIRD AVENUE, 12TH FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SEATTLE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>WA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>98104</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <officerTitle>President Global Services</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2017-11-28</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>7000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>46.94</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>23049.4637</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
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            <ownershipNature>
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                    <value>D</value>
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                <value>Common Stock</value>
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            <transactionDate>
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                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
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            <transactionAmounts>
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                <transactionPricePerShare>
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                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
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                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
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        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2017-11-28</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
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            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
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                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
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                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
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        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2017-11-28</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
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        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>13050</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>by Trust</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Options (Right to Buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>46.94</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2017-11-28</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>7000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2011-05-07</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2018-05-07</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>7000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Options (Right to Buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>37.13</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2017-11-28</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>3269</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2012-05-06</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2019-05-06</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>3269</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Balance of Common Stock beneficially owned includes 504.1279 shares purchased on July 31, 2017 under Expeditors International of Washington, Inc.'s 2002 Employee Stock Purchase Plan.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The price reported is a weighted average price. These shares were sold in multiple transactions at prices ranging from $60.21 to $60.715, inclusive. The reporting person undertakes to provide to any security holder of Expeditors or to the SEC, upon request, full information regarding the number of shares sold at each separate price within the range stated.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">The price reported is a weighted average price. These shares were sold in multiple transactions at prices ranging from $60.37 to $60.56, inclusive. The reporting person undertakes to provide to any security holder of Expeditors or to the SEC, upon request, full information regarding the number of shares sold at each separate price within the range stated.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Brittany Kelly, Stock Plan Administrator, attorney-in-fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2017-11-30</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
