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

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2007-03-08</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001124825</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>ZAX STANLEY R</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>ZENITH NATIONAL INSURANCE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>21255 CALIFA STREET</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>WOODLAND HILLS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>91367</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>2007-03-08</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>5000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">These shares were issued to Mr. Zax pursuant to the Sequa Corporation 2003 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 Stanley R. Zax</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2007-03-09</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
[{"type": "4", "sequence": "1", "filename": "primary_doc.xml", "description": "PRIMARY DOCUMENT", "secsgml_size_bytes": 3479}]
X0202
4
2007-03-08
0
0000095301
SEQUA CORP /DE/
SQAA
0001124825
ZAX STANLEY R
ZENITH NATIONAL INSURANCE
21255 CALIFA STREET
WOODLAND HILLS
CA
91367
1
0
0
0
Class A Common
2007-03-08
4
A
0
5000
0
A
5000
D
These shares were issued to Mr. Zax pursuant to the Sequa Corporation 2003 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 Stanley R. Zax
2007-03-09