<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0001104659-03-015524
<TYPE>4
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>1
<PERIOD>20030722
<FILING-DATE>20030723
<ISSUER>
<COMPANY-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>HALF ROBERT INTERNATIONAL INC /DE/
<CIK>0000315213
<ASSIGNED-SIC>7363
<IRS-NUMBER>941648752
<STATE-OF-INCORPORATION>DE
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>1231
</COMPANY-DATA>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>2884 SAND HILL RD
<STREET2>STE 200
<CITY>MENLO PARK
<STATE>CA
<ZIP>94025
<PHONE>6502346000
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>2884 SAND HILL ROAD
<STREET2>STE 200
<CITY>MENLO PARK
<STATE>CA
<ZIP>94025
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
<FORMER-COMPANY>
<FORMER-CONFORMED-NAME>BOOTHE FINANCIAL CORP /DE/
<DATE-CHANGED>19870721
</FORMER-COMPANY>
<FORMER-COMPANY>
<FORMER-CONFORMED-NAME>BOOTHE INTERIM CORP
<DATE-CHANGED>19600201
</FORMER-COMPANY>
</ISSUER>
<REPORTING-OWNER>
<OWNER-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>GIBBONS EDWARD W
<CIK>0001189950
</OWNER-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>4
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>001-10427
<FILM-NUMBER>03798900
</FILING-VALUES>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>C/O JACK IN THE BOX INC
<STREET2>9330 BALVOA AVE
<CITY>SAN DIEGO
<STATE>CA
<ZIP>92123
<PHONE>8585712321
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>C/O JACK IN THE BOX INC
<STREET2>9330 BALVOA AVE
<CITY>SAN DIEGO
<STATE>CA
<ZIP>92123
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</REPORTING-OWNER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>a4.xml
<DESCRIPTION>4
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
  <periodOfReport>2003-07-22</periodOfReport>
  <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000315213</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>HALF ROBERT INTERNATIONAL INC /DE/</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>RHI</issuerTradingSymbol>
  </issuer>
  <reportingOwner>
    <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001189950</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>GIBBONS EDWARD W</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
      <isDirector>1</isDirector>
      <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
      <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
      <isOther>0</isOther>
    </reportingOwnerRelationship>
  </reportingOwner>
  <nonDerivativeSecurity>
    <securityTitle>
      <value>Common Stock</value>
    </securityTitle>
    <transactionDate>
      <value>2003-07-22</value>
    </transactionDate>
    <transactionCoding>
      <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
      <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
      <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
    </transactionCoding>
    <transactionTimeliness>
      <value/>
    </transactionTimeliness>
    <transactionAmounts>
      <transactionShares>
        <value>25000</value>
      </transactionShares>
      <transactionValue>
        <value>19.8741</value>
      </transactionValue>
      <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
        <value>D</value>
      </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
    </transactionAmounts>
    <postTransactionAmounts>
      <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
        <value>1513670</value>
        <footnoteId id="F1"/>
      </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
    </postTransactionAmounts>
    <ownershipNature>
      <directOrIndirectOwnership>
        <value>D</value>
      </directOrIndirectOwnership>
    </ownershipNature>
  </nonDerivativeSecurity>
  <nonDerivativeSecurity>
    <securityTitle>
      <value>Common Stock</value>
    </securityTitle>
    <transactionDate>
      <value>2003-07-23</value>
    </transactionDate>
    <transactionCoding>
      <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
      <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
      <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
    </transactionCoding>
    <transactionTimeliness>
      <value/>
    </transactionTimeliness>
    <transactionAmounts>
      <transactionShares>
        <value>25000</value>
      </transactionShares>
      <transactionValue>
        <value>20.1616</value>
      </transactionValue>
      <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
        <value>D</value>
      </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
    </transactionAmounts>
    <postTransactionAmounts>
      <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
        <value>1488670</value>
      </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
    </postTransactionAmounts>
    <ownershipNature>
      <directOrIndirectOwnership>
        <value>D</value>
      </directOrIndirectOwnership>
    </ownershipNature>
  </nonDerivativeSecurity>
  <footnotes>
    <footnote id="F1">As a result of the dissolution of reporting person's marriage, the shares owned by his former spouse that were previously reported as indirectly held by him are no longer subject to reporting requirements.
</footnote>
  </footnotes>
  <ownerSignature>
    <signatureName>/s/ Edward W. Gibbons</signatureName>
    <signatureDate>2003-07-23</signatureDate>
  </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SUBMISSION>
