<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0001248915-09-000053
<TYPE>4
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>1
<PERIOD>20090306
<FILING-DATE>20090310
<DATE-OF-FILING-DATE-CHANGE>20090310
<REPORTING-OWNER>
<OWNER-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>BRADSHAW STEVEN G
<CIK>0001248923
</OWNER-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>4
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>000-19341
<FILM-NUMBER>09667983
</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>2009-03-06</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001248923</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>BRADSHAW STEVEN G</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>Sr. EVP - Consumer Banking</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>2006 Stock Options</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>47.05</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-03-06</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>7047</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>47.05</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>7047</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>21141</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>2006 Restricted Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-03-06</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1727</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F5"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>1727</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>5181</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Represents adjustments to previous grants of stock options based upon attainment of certain performance criteria contained in the BOKF executive incentive plan.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">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="F3">Options expire 3 years after vesting.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">Represents restricted stock which vests 5 years from the date of grant.  Shares are subject to forfeiture (i) upon termination of employment prior to vesting, and (ii) certain performance earnings per share targets established pursuant to BOKF Executive Incentive Plan are not met.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">Represents adjustments to previous grants of restricted stock based upon attainment of certain performance criteria contained in the BOKF executive incentive plan.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Frederic Dorwart</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2009-03-10</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SUBMISSION>
