<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2007-01-25</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000095301</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>SEQUA CORP /DE/</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>SQAA</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001387776</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Binderman Gail</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>31 MONROE AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>LARCHMONT</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10538</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class A Common</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2007-01-25</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>5000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>67395</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class A Common</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>51739</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class A Common</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1943485</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See footnote 3</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">These shares are issued to Ms. Binderman pursuant to the 2003 Sequa Corporation Directors' Stock Award Plan (the &quot;Plan&quot;).  The shares are restricted from disposition or transfer in accordance with the provisions set forth in the Plan; such restrictions will lapse as to one-fifth of the shares covered by the grant on each of the next five anniversaries of the grant date.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Beneficial ownership is through the reporting person's acting as an executor of the estate of Norman E. Alexander (the &quot;Estate&quot;).  Includes 2,049 shares held in 401(k) Plan for the Estate's account.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Indirect ownership by Fifty Broad Street, Inc. (14,297 shares), Forfed Corporation (1,743,143 shares), 42 New Street Inc. (45,000 shares) and YOUANDI Corp. (30,000 shares) and Norman and Marjorie Alexander Foundation, Inc. (110,415 shares), all of which are controlled by Ms. Binderman as an executor of the Estate.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/Diane C. Bunt, as attorney-in-fact for Gail Binderman</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2007-01-29</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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X0202
4
2007-01-25
0
0000095301
SEQUA CORP /DE/
SQAA
0001387776
Binderman Gail
31 MONROE AVENUE
LARCHMONT
NY
10538
1
0
1
0
Class A Common
2007-01-25
4
A
0
5000
0
A
67395
D
Class A Common
51739
D
Class A Common
1943485
I
See footnote 3
These shares are issued to Ms. Binderman pursuant to the 2003 Sequa Corporation Directors' Stock Award Plan (the "Plan").  The shares are restricted from disposition or transfer in accordance with the provisions set forth in the Plan; such restrictions will lapse as to one-fifth of the shares covered by the grant on each of the next five anniversaries of the grant date.
Beneficial ownership is through the reporting person's acting as an executor of the estate of Norman E. Alexander (the "Estate").  Includes 2,049 shares held in 401(k) Plan for the Estate's account.
Indirect ownership by Fifty Broad Street, Inc. (14,297 shares), Forfed Corporation (1,743,143 shares), 42 New Street Inc. (45,000 shares) and YOUANDI Corp. (30,000 shares) and Norman and Marjorie Alexander Foundation, Inc. (110,415 shares), all of which are controlled by Ms. Binderman as an executor of the Estate.
/s/Diane C. Bunt, as attorney-in-fact for Gail Binderman
2007-01-29