<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0001248915-09-000071
<TYPE>4
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>1
<PERIOD>20090312
<FILING-DATE>20090313
<DATE-OF-FILING-DATE-CHANGE>20090313
<REPORTING-OWNER>
<OWNER-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>KYMES STACY
<CIK>0001286737
</OWNER-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>4
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>000-19341
<FILM-NUMBER>09681543
</FILING-VALUES>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>C/O FREDERIC DORWART, LAWYERS
<STREET2>124 EAST FOURTH STREET
<CITY>TULSA
<STATE>OK
<ZIP>74103
<PHONE>918-585-9922
</BUSINESS-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>2009-03-12</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001286737</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>KYMES STACY</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1></rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity></rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState></rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode></rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Sr. VP - Corporate Admin. Mgmt</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-03-12</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>560</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>26.538</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1477</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Frederic Dorwart</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2009-03-13</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SUBMISSION>
