-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 TvKMQgQabhBk9CbEU17ub+7ZXsh8nHrGpWfi0gBUL56rvYBDqfVw+IOX+4gynX0z
 IG5zZMsJxo6FdReoveWP+Q==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001198272-04-000070.txt : 20040928
<SEC-HEADER>0001198272-04-000070.hdr.sgml : 20040928
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040928115746
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001198272-04-000070
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		2
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040927
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040928
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20040928

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			PUTNAM HIGH INCOME BOND FUND
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000810943
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	UNKNOWN SIC - 0000 [0000]
		IRS NUMBER:				046562068
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			MA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0831

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE POST OFFICE SQ
		STREET 2:		MAILSTOP A 14
		CITY:			BOSTON
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			02109
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8002251581

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		PUTNAM LLC
		STREET 2:		ONE POST OFFICE SQ
		CITY:			BOSTON
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			02109

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	PUTNAM HIGH BOND FUND
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	20021107

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	PUTNAM HIGH INCOME CONVERTIBLE & BOND FUND
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19920703

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			HILL JOHN A
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000903969

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	811-05133
		FILM NUMBER:		041048901

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		FIRST RESERVE CORPORATION
		STREET 2:		ONE LAFAYETTE PLACE-THIRD FLOOR
		CITY:			GREENWICH
		STATE:			CT
		ZIP:			06830
		BUSINESS PHONE:		405-552-7844

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		20 N. BROADWAY
		CITY:			OKLAHOMA CITY
		STATE:			OK
		ZIP:			73012
</SEC-HEADER>
<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>2004-09-27</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000810943</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>PUTNAM HIGH INCOME BOND FUND</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>pcf</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0000903969</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>HILL JOHN A</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>20 N. BROADWAY</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>OKLAHOMA CITY</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>OK</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>73012</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Closed-End Fund</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-09-27</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>30000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>7.95</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>62647.663</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>John A. Hill</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-09-28</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-99
<SEQUENCE>3
<FILENAME>hillconfirm.txt
<DESCRIPTION>CONFIRMING STATEMENT
<TEXT>

Confirming Statement

I, as Reporting Person of Putnam Investment Management, LLC and/or
Putnam, LLC, the Issuer's Investment Adviser and Indirect Parent
Holding Company, respectively, hereby authorize and designate each and
every Managing Director, Senior Vice President and Vice President in
the Putnam Investments Legal and Compliance Department to file SEC
Exchange Act Forms 3, 4 or 5 on my behalf until further notice in
electronic format pursuant to Rule 101(b)(4) of Regulation S-T.

- ---------------------------

/s/  John A. Hill



</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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