<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0001104659-05-002331
<TYPE>4
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>1
<PERIOD>20050120
<FILING-DATE>20050124
<DATE-OF-FILING-DATE-CHANGE>20050124
<REPORTING-OWNER>
<OWNER-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>HEWITT WILLIAM B
<CIK>0001223344
</OWNER-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>4
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>001-14330
<FILM-NUMBER>05543857
</FILING-VALUES>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>2 WHARF SIDE STREET
<CITY>CHARLESTON
<STATE>SC
<ZIP>29402
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</REPORTING-OWNER>
<ISSUER>
<COMPANY-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>POLYMER GROUP INC
<CIK>0000927417
<ASSIGNED-SIC>2221
<IRS-NUMBER>571003983
<STATE-OF-INCORPORATION>DE
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>0103
</COMPANY-DATA>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>4838 JENKINS AVE
<CITY>NORTH CHARLESTON
<STATE>SC
<ZIP>29405
<PHONE>8037445174
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>4838 JENKINS AVENUE
<CITY>NORTH CHARLESTON
<STATE>SC
<ZIP>29405
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</ISSUER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>a4.xml
<DESCRIPTION>4
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2005-01-20</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000927417</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>POLYMER GROUP INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>POLGA.OB</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001223344</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>HEWITT WILLIAM B</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>2 WHARF SIDE STREET</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>CHARLESTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>SC</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>29402</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class A Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-01-20</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>810</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>18.52</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>30220</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Restricted stock granted pursuant to the Polymer Group, Inc. 2004 Restricted Stock Plan for Directors.  Fifty percent of such shares will vest on July 20, 2005, and the remaining 50% will vest on July 20, 2006.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/William B. Hewitt</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-01-21</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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