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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001104659-09-000278.txt : 20090105
<SEC-HEADER>0001104659-09-000278.hdr.sgml : 20090105
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20090105145112
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001104659-09-000278
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20090103
FILED AS OF DATE:		20090105
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20090105

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MESSMER HAROLD M JR
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001183491

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-10427
		FILM NUMBER:		09504337

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O HEALTH CARE PROPERTY INVESTORS INC
		STREET 2:		4675 MACARTHUR COURT STE 900
		CITY:			NEWPORT BEACH
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			92660
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9492210600

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			HALF ROBERT INTERNATIONAL INC /DE/
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000315213
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SERVICES-HELP SUPPLY SERVICES [7363]
		IRS NUMBER:				941648752
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2884 SAND HILL RD
		STREET 2:		STE 200
		CITY:			MENLO PARK
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94025
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6502346000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2884 SAND HILL ROAD
		STREET 2:		STE 200
		CITY:			MENLO PARK
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94025

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	BOOTHE FINANCIAL CORP /DE/
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19870721

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	BOOTHE INTERIM CORP
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19600201
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>a4.xml
<DESCRIPTION>4
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2009-01-03</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000315213</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>HALF ROBERT INTERNATIONAL INC /DE/</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>RHI</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001183491</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>MESSMER HAROLD M JR</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>2884 SAND HILL ROAD</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>MENLO PARK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>94025</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Chairman &amp; CEO</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-01-03</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>53946</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>21.35</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1185515</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>939900</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By GRATs</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Reflects (a) contribution of shares to various new GRATs by Reporting Person during 2008 and (b) distribution by existing GRATs of shares to Reporting Person during 2008.  All of such GRATs are for the benefit of relatives of Reporting Person and have Reporting Person as a Trustee.  As a result of such contributions and distributions, (a) certain shares that were previously reported as directly held are now reported as indirectly held and (b) certain shares that were previously reported as indirectly held are now reported as directly held.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Harold M. Messmer, Jr.</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-01-05</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
