<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001104659-16-155584.txt : 20161108
<SEC-HEADER>0001104659-16-155584.hdr.sgml : 20161108
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20161108170023
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001104659-16-155584
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20161104
FILED AS OF DATE:		20161108
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20161108

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ARES CAPITAL CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001287750
		IRS NUMBER:				331089684
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			MD
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		245 PARK AVENUE, 44TH FLOOR
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10167
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2127507300

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		245 PARK AVENUE, 44TH FLOOR
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10167

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Kelly Daniel G Jr
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001674807

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	814-00663
		FILM NUMBER:		161981921

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2000 AVENUE OF THE STARS, 12TH FLOOR
		CITY:			LOS ANGELES
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			90067
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>a4.xml
<DESCRIPTION>4
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2016-11-04</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001287750</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ARES CAPITAL CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>ARCC</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001674807</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Kelly Daniel G Jr</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O ARES CAPITAL CORPORATION</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>245 PARK AVENUE, 44TH FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10167</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2016-11-04</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>7500</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>15.33</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>15391</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>As Trustee for the Wheeler-Kelly Family 2005 Trust</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The price reported in Column 4 is a weighted average price. These shares were purchased in multiple transactions at prices ranging from $15.22 to $15.36, inclusive. The reporting person undertakes to provide to Ares Capital Corporation, any security holder of Ares Capital Corporation, or the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission, upon request, full information regarding the number of shares purchased at each separate price within the range set forth in footnote (1) to this Form 4.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Monica Shilling, by power of attorney</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2016-11-08</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
