<?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>0001032805</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>WEINBERG ROBERT F</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1></rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity></rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState></rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode></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</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>6416</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">These shares are issued to Mr. Weinberg 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>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/Diane C. Bunt, as attorney-in-fact for Robert F. Weinberg</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2007-01-29</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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X0202
4
2007-01-25
0
0000095301
SEQUA CORP /DE/
SQAA
0001032805
WEINBERG ROBERT F
1
0
0
0
Class A Common
2007-01-25
4
A
0
5000
0
A
6416
D
These shares are issued to Mr. Weinberg 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.
/s/Diane C. Bunt, as attorney-in-fact for Robert F. Weinberg
2007-01-29