<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0001248915-08-000251
<TYPE>4
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>1
<PERIOD>20081223
<FILING-DATE>20081229
<DATE-OF-FILING-DATE-CHANGE>20081229
<REPORTING-OWNER>
<OWNER-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>BALL C FRED JR
<CIK>0001248915
</OWNER-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>4
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>000-19341
<FILM-NUMBER>081272151
</FILING-VALUES>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<PHONE>9185839922
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>C/O FREDERIC DORWART
<STREET2>124 E FOURTH STREET
<CITY>TULSA
<STATE>OK
<ZIP>74103
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</REPORTING-OWNER>
<ISSUER>
<COMPANY-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>BOK FINANCIAL CORP ET AL
<CIK>0000875357
<ASSIGNED-SIC>6021
<IRS-NUMBER>731373454
<STATE-OF-INCORPORATION>OK
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>1231
</COMPANY-DATA>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>BANK OF OKLAHOMA TOWER
<STREET2>PO BOX 2300
<CITY>TULSA
<STATE>OK
<ZIP>74192
<PHONE>9185953025
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>BANK OF OKLAHOMA TOWER
<STREET2>P O BOX 2300
<CITY>TULSA
<STATE>OK
<ZIP>74192
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</ISSUER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2008-12-23</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000875357</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>BOK FINANCIAL CORP ET AL</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>BOKF</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001248915</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>BALL C FRED JR</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O FREDERIC DORWART</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>124 E FOURTH STREET</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>TULSA</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>OK</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>74103</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Senior Chairman-Bank of Texas</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>1999 Stock Options</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>38.91</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-12-23</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>4020</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>38.91</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Commmon Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>4020</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>4020</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">For options granted in any one year, one-seventh of the options of such grant vest and become exercisable on the grant date of the anniversary each year commencing on the first anniversary after the grant.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Options expire 3 years after vesting.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Frederic Dorwart</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-12-29</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SUBMISSION>
