<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001271163-13-000073.txt : 20130822
<SEC-HEADER>0001271163-13-000073.hdr.sgml : 20130822
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20130822154629
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001271163-13-000073
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20130820
FILED AS OF DATE:		20130822
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20130822

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			GABELLI EQUITY TRUST INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000794685
		IRS NUMBER:				222736509
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			MD
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE CORP CENTER
		CITY:			RYE
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10580
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9149215070

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			GABELLI MARIO J
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001185533

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	811-04700
		FILM NUMBER:		131055201

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O GAMCO INVESTORS, INC
		STREET 2:		ONE CORPORATE CENTER
		CITY:			RYE
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10580
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2013-08-20</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000794685</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>GABELLI EQUITY TRUST INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>GAB.G</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001185533</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>GABELLI MARIO J</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O GAMCO INVESTORS, INC</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>ONE CORPORATE CENTER</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>RYE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10580</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>1</isOther>
            <otherText>Control Person of Adviser</otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Series G Cumulative Preferred Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2013-08-20</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>21.4705</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>29800</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>GAMCO Investors, Inc.</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The shares reported reflect the total shares owned by GAMCO Investors, Inc. (GAMCO).  Mario J. Gabelli is the Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, and controlling shareholder of GAMCO.  Mr. Gabelli has less than a 100% interest in GAMCO and disclaims beneficial ownership of the shares held by it which are in excess of his indirect pecuniary interest.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Douglas R. Jamieson as Attorney-in-Fact for Mario J. Gabelli</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2013-08-22</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
