-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 Nr3TBBP6HBTVM1LBiUbg27L32yvCMttclsrpWHjckcNJwnW/a6mpIu0IG5GeBkEa
 BfXhXBOOvS7mm7Svdup1mQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001238630-03-000017.txt : 20030730
<SEC-HEADER>0001238630-03-000017.hdr.sgml : 20030730
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030730153313
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001238630-03-000017
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030728
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030730

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MILLER HERMAN INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000066382
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	OFFICE FURNITURE [2520]
		IRS NUMBER:				380837640
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			MI
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0531

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		855 E MAIN AVE
		STREET 2:		PO BOX 302
		CITY:			ZEELAND
		STATE:			MI
		ZIP:			49464-0302
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6166543000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		8500 BYRON RD
		CITY:			ZEELAND
		STATE:			MI
		ZIP:			49464

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	MILLER HERMAN FURNITURE CO
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19690610

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	MICHIGAN STAR FURNITURE CO
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19671116

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	STAR FURNITURE CO
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19671116

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			WALKER BRIAN C
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001202922

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-15141
		FILM NUMBER:		03811441

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		855 EAST MAIN AVENUE
		CITY:			ZEELAND
		STATE:			MI
		ZIP:			49464-0302
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6166543000
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>

<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2003-07-28</periodOfReport>


    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000066382</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>MILLER HERMAN INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>MLHR</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001202922</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>WALKER BRIAN C</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>855 EAST MAIN AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>PO BOX 302</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>ZEELAND</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MI</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>49464</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>President &amp; COO</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>

        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2003-07-28</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>D</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>6757</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>20.71</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>139500.667</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>

        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>22178</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>by Spouse</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>

    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The directly owned common stock holdings reflected in Table I of this form include shares acquired through participatation in the Herman Miller Dividend Reinvestment Plan, which satisfies the exemption of Rule 16b-2.</footnote>
    </footnotes>


    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>By: Angela C. Burgess For: Brian C. Walker</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-07-30</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
