-----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,
 DSm3+HK8mBekxMssbiLH1Sm9b4u85l2Ob3mQ5OcP4b7yNAciagz403LKwtr6F2sS
 nMsM2vz/Cm9YP9SdsrwlFg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001221504-03-000005.txt : 20030606
<SEC-HEADER>0001221504-03-000005.hdr.sgml : 20030606
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030606164123
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001221504-03-000005
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030605
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030606

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BUDIN ROBERT M
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001223063

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-09399
		FILM NUMBER:		03736179

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O RESEARCH FRONTIERS
		STREET 2:		240 CROSSWAYS PARK DR
		CITY:			WOODBURY
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			11797-2033
		BUSINESS PHONE:		5163641902

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			RESEARCH FRONTIERS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000793524
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SERVICES-COMMERCIAL PHYSICAL & BIOLOGICAL RESEARCH [8731]
		IRS NUMBER:				112103466
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		240 CROSSWAYS PARK DR
		CITY:			WOODBURY
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			11797-2033
		BUSINESS PHONE:		5163641902

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		240 CROSSWAYS PARK DR
		CITY:			WOODBURY
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			11797-2033
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>

<ownershipDocument>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2003-06-05</periodOfReport>


    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000793524</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>RESEARCH FRONTIERS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>REFR</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001223063</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>BUDIN ROBERT M</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeSecurity>
        <securityTitle>
            <value>Common Stock</value>
        </securityTitle>
        <transactionDate>
            <value>2003-06-05</value>
        </transactionDate>
        <transactionCoding>
            <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
            <transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
            <equitySwapInvolved>1</equitySwapInvolved>
        </transactionCoding>
        <transactionTimeliness>
            <value></value>
        </transactionTimeliness>
        <transactionAmounts>
            <transactionShares>
                <value>1877</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionShares>
            <transactionValue>
                <value>7.2667</value>
            </transactionValue>
            <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                <value>A</value>
            </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
        </transactionAmounts>
        <postTransactionAmounts>
            <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                <value>32377</value>
            </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
        </postTransactionAmounts>
        <ownershipNature>
            <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <value>D</value>
            </directOrIndirectOwnership>
        </ownershipNature>
    </nonDerivativeSecurity>

    <derivativeSecurity>
        <securityTitle>
            <value>Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
        </securityTitle>
        <conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <value>7.2667</value>
        </conversionOrExercisePrice>
        <transactionDate>
            <value>2003-06-05</value>
        </transactionDate>
        <transactionCoding>
            <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
            <transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
            <equitySwapInvolved>1</equitySwapInvolved>
        </transactionCoding>
        <transactionTimeliness>
            <value></value>
        </transactionTimeliness>
        <transactionAmounts>
            <transactionShares>
                <value>3375</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionShares>
            <transactionValue>
                <value>7.2667</value>
            </transactionValue>
            <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                <value>D</value>
            </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
        </transactionAmounts>
        <exerciseDate>
            <value>1993-06-10</value>
        </exerciseDate>
        <expirationDate>
            <value>2003-06-09</value>
        </expirationDate>
        <underlyingSecurity>
            <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </underlyingSecurityTitle>
            <underlyingSecurityShares>
                <value>3375</value>
            </underlyingSecurityShares>
        </underlyingSecurity>
        <postTransactionAmounts>
            <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                <value>125900</value>
            </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
        </postTransactionAmounts>
        <ownershipNature>
            <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <value>D</value>
            </directOrIndirectOwnership>
        </ownershipNature>
    </derivativeSecurity>

    <derivativeSecurity>
        <securityTitle>
            <value>Stock Purchase Warrant (right to buy)</value>
        </securityTitle>
        <conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <value>7.2667</value>
        </conversionOrExercisePrice>
        <transactionDate>
            <value>2003-06-05</value>
        </transactionDate>
        <transactionCoding>
            <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
            <transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
            <equitySwapInvolved>1</equitySwapInvolved>
        </transactionCoding>
        <transactionTimeliness>
            <value></value>
        </transactionTimeliness>
        <transactionAmounts>
            <transactionShares>
                <value>2250</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionShares>
            <transactionValue>
                <value>7.2667</value>
            </transactionValue>
            <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                <value>D</value>
            </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
        </transactionAmounts>
        <exerciseDate>
            <value>1993-06-10</value>
        </exerciseDate>
        <expirationDate>
            <value>2003-06-09</value>
        </expirationDate>
        <underlyingSecurity>
            <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </underlyingSecurityTitle>
            <underlyingSecurityShares>
                <value>2250</value>
            </underlyingSecurityShares>
        </underlyingSecurity>
        <postTransactionAmounts>
            <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                <value>57350</value>
            </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
        </postTransactionAmounts>
        <ownershipNature>
            <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <value>D</value>
            </directOrIndirectOwnership>
        </ownershipNature>
    </derivativeSecurity>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The reported transaction involves the cancellation of 3,748 shares which would be issuable pursuant to the exercise of the options and warrants being exercised in partial payment of the exercise price of the options and warrants to purchase a total of 5,625 shares at an exercise price of $7.26667 per share, resulting in the net issuance of 1,877 shares of common stock to the reporting person.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Robert M. Budin</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-06-06</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

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