<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0001227441-03-000002
<TYPE>4
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>1
<PERIOD>20031218
<FILING-DATE>20031219
<REPORTING-OWNER>
<OWNER-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>COWART JIM C
<CIK>0001227441
</OWNER-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>4
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>000-19188
<FILM-NUMBER>031066140
</FILING-VALUES>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>BE AEROSPACE INC
<STREET2>1400 CORPORATE CENTER WAY
<CITY>WELLINGTON
<STATE>FL
<ZIP>33414
<PHONE>5617915000
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
</REPORTING-OWNER>
<ISSUER>
<COMPANY-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>APPLIED EXTRUSION TECHNOLOGIES INC /DE
<CIK>0000874389
<ASSIGNED-SIC>3081
<IRS-NUMBER>510295865
<STATE-OF-INCORPORATION>DE
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>0930
</COMPANY-DATA>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>3 CENTENNIAL DRIVE
<CITY>PEABODY
<STATE>MA
<ZIP>01960
<PHONE>9785381500
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>3 CENTENNIAL DR
<CITY>PEABODY
<STATE>MA
<ZIP>01960
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</ISSUER>
<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>2003-12-18</periodOfReport>


    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000874389</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>APPLIED EXTRUSION TECHNOLOGIES INC /DE</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>AETC</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001227441</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>COWART JIM C</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>28681 ABANTES PLACE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>LAGUNA NIGUEL</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>92677</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>

        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Options (Right to Buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>2.29</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2003-12-18</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>25000</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>2.29</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2004-12-18</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2013-12-18</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>25000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>25000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>

    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The options become exercisable in four equal installments commencing on the first anniversary of the date of grant.</footnote>
    </footnotes>


    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Robert J. Goggin</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-12-19</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SUBMISSION>
