<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0001052915-06-000029
<TYPE>4
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>1
<PERIOD>20060915
<FILING-DATE>20060918
<DATE-OF-FILING-DATE-CHANGE>20060918
<ISSUER>
<COMPANY-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>KELLY SERVICES INC
<CIK>0000055135
<ASSIGNED-SIC>7363
<IRS-NUMBER>381510762
<STATE-OF-INCORPORATION>DE
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>1231
</COMPANY-DATA>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>999 W BIG BEAVER RD
<CITY>TROY
<STATE>MI
<ZIP>48084
<PHONE>2483624444
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>999 WEST BIG BEAVER RD
<CITY>TROY
<STATE>MI
<ZIP>48084
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</ISSUER>
<REPORTING-OWNER>
<OWNER-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>ADDERLEY TERENCE E
<CIK>0001052915
<ASSIGNED-SIC>7363
<STATE-OF-INCORPORATION>DE
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>1231
</OWNER-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>4
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>000-01088
<FILM-NUMBER>061094665
</FILING-VALUES>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>999 W BIG BEAVER RD
<STREET2>C/O KELLY SERVICES INC
<CITY>TROY
<STATE>MI
<ZIP>48084
<PHONE>81024444
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>999 WEST BIG BEAVER RD
<STREET2>C/O KELLY SERVICES INC
<CITY>TROY
<STATE>MI
<ZIP>48084
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</REPORTING-OWNER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2006-09-15</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000055135</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>KELLY SERVICES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>kelya</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001052915</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>ADDERLEY TERENCE E</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>999 WEST BIG BEAVER RD</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>C/O KELLY SERVICES INC</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>TROY</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MI</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>48084</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>1</isOther>
            <otherText>Chairman</otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class A Common Stock, Par Value $1</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2006-09-15</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>10000</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>27.085</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>4117935</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>Indirect - Trustee</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class A Common Stock Par Value $1</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>4781874</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">This transaction represents a portion of a planned stock sale by the William R. Kelly Trust (aka William R. Kelly Marital Trust) filed on Form 144 on June 22, 2006.  The Trust is selling shares for liquidity purposes to meet on-going estate tax obligations.  Mr. Adderley serves as Sole Trstee of the Trust and therefore the shares are attributable to Mr. Adderley for SEC reporting purposes.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Terence E. Adderley, by James M. Polehna, Attorney-in-fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2006-09-18</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SUBMISSION>
