<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001127602-21-025242.txt : 20210914
<SEC-HEADER>0001127602-21-025242.hdr.sgml : 20210914
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20210914124643
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001127602-21-025242
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20210910
FILED AS OF DATE:		20210914
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20210914

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Dickerman Jeffrey F
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001797778

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-13468
		FILM NUMBER:		211251880

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1015 THIRD AVENUE
		CITY:			SEATTLE
		STATE:			WA
		ZIP:			98104

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
		CITY:			SEATTLE
		STATE:			WA
		ZIP:			98104
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2066743400

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1015 THIRD AVENUE
		CITY:			SEATTLE
		STATE:			WA
		ZIP:			98104
</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>2021-09-10</periodOfReport>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001797778</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Dickerman Jeffrey F</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1015 THIRD AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SEATTLE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>WA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>98104</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <officerTitle>Senior VP/Gen Counsel/Corp Sec</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2021-09-10</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>340</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>126.11</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1599.2426</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2021-09-13</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>276</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>127.05</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1323.2426</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Balance of Common Stock beneficially owned includes 291.2715 shares purchased on July 30, 2021 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 $127.04 to $127.08, 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>Diane Heffner, Stock Plan Administrator, attorney-in-fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2021-09-14</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
