<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0001257572-09-000002
<TYPE>4
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>1
<PERIOD>20090601
<FILING-DATE>20090602
<DATE-OF-FILING-DATE-CHANGE>20090602
<REPORTING-OWNER>
<OWNER-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>LIS DANIEL T
<CIK>0001257572
</OWNER-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>4
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>000-01088
<FILM-NUMBER>09867303
</FILING-VALUES>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>999 WEST BIG BEAVER ROAD
<CITY>TROY
<STATE>MI
<ZIP>02109
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</REPORTING-OWNER>
<ISSUER>
<COMPANY-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>KELLY SERVICES INC
<CIK>0000055135
<ASSIGNED-SIC>7363
<IRS-NUMBER>381510762
<STATE-OF-INCORPORATION>DE
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>0103
</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>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2009-06-01</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001257572</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>LIS DANIEL T</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>999 WEST BIG BEAVER ROAD</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>TROY</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MI</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>02109</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>SVP, General Counsel &amp; Secr.</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class A Common Stock, Par Value $1</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-06-01</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>457</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>11.87</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>35086</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class A Common Stock, Par Value $1</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-06-01</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>686</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>11.87</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>34400</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class A Common Stock, Par Value $1</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-06-01</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1188</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>11.87</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>33212</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Daniel T. Lis</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2009-06-02</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>by James M. Polehna, Attorney-in-fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2009-06-02</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SUBMISSION>
