<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001271163-17-000064.txt : 20171221
<SEC-HEADER>0001271163-17-000064.hdr.sgml : 20171221
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20171221140434
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001271163-17-000064
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20171221
FILED AS OF DATE:		20171221
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20171221

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ALPERT BRUCE N
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001185528

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	811-04700
		FILM NUMBER:		171268980

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O GAMCO INVESTORS, INC.
		STREET 2:		ONE CORPORATE CENTER
		CITY:			RYE
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10580

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
</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>2017-12-21</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001185528</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>ALPERT BRUCE N</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>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>President</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, Par Value $0.001</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2017-12-21</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>687</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>5.5</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1894.09</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The reporting person acquired these common shares through a primary and pro-rata oversubscription allocation based on the exercise of common share purchase rights.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Bruce N. Alpert</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2017-12-21</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
