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<?xml version="1.0" encoding="windows-1252"?> |
<ownershipDocument> |
| <schemaVersion> X0306 </schemaVersion> |
| <documentType> 4 </documentType> |
| <periodOfReport> 2021-03-02 </periodOfReport> |
| <issuer> |
| | <issuerCik> 0000746515 </issuerCik> |
| | <issuerName> EXPEDITORS INTERNATIONAL OF WASHINGTON INC </issuerName> |
| | <issuerTradingSymbol> EXPD </issuerTradingSymbol> |
| | </issuer> |
| <reportingOwner> |
| | <reportingOwnerId> |
| | | <rptOwnerCik> 0001627405 </rptOwnerCik> |
| | | <rptOwnerName> McClincy Christopher J. </rptOwnerName> |
| | | </reportingOwnerId> |
| | <reportingOwnerAddress> |
| | | <rptOwnerStreet1> 1015 THIRD AVENUE </rptOwnerStreet1> |
| | | <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2> |
| | | <rptOwnerCity> SEATTLE </rptOwnerCity> |
| | | <rptOwnerState> WA </rptOwnerState> |
| | | <rptOwnerZipCode> 98104 </rptOwnerZipCode> |
| | | <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription> |
| | | </reportingOwnerAddress> |
| | <reportingOwnerRelationship> |
| | | <isOfficer> 1 </isOfficer> |
| | | <officerTitle> Senior VP - CIO </officerTitle> |
| | | </reportingOwnerRelationship> |
| | </reportingOwner> |
| <nonDerivativeTable> |
| | <nonDerivativeTransaction> |
| | | <securityTitle> |
| <value> Common Stock </value> |
| </securityTitle> |
| | | <transactionDate> |
| <value> 2021-03-02 </value> |
| </transactionDate> |
| | | <transactionCoding> |
| <transactionFormType> 4 </transactionFormType> |
| <transactionCode> S </transactionCode> |
| <equitySwapInvolved> 0 </equitySwapInvolved> |
| </transactionCoding> |
| | | <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness> |
| | | <transactionAmounts> |
| <transactionShares> |
| <value> 3408 </value> |
| </transactionShares> |
| <transactionPricePerShare> |
| <value> 94.20 </value> |
| </transactionPricePerShare> |
| <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode> |
| <value> D </value> |
| </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode> |
| </transactionAmounts> |
| | | <postTransactionAmounts> |
| <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction> |
| <value> 19712.2309 </value> |
| </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction> |
| </postTransactionAmounts> |
| | | <ownershipNature> |
| <directOrIndirectOwnership> |
| <value> D </value> |
| </directOrIndirectOwnership> |
| </ownershipNature> |
| | | </nonDerivativeTransaction> |
| | </nonDerivativeTable> |
| <footnotes></footnotes> |
| <ownerSignature> |
| | <signatureName> Diane Heffner, Stock Plan Administrator, attorney-in-fact </signatureName> |
| | <signatureDate> 2021-03-03 </signatureDate> |
| | </ownerSignature> |
| </ownershipDocument> |