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

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2007-12-03</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001336064</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Costello Donna</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>SEQUA CORPORATION</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>200 PARK AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10166</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Vice President &amp; Controller</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Employee stock option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>41.7</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2007-12-03</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>D</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>133.3</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2008-09-25</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Class A Common</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>1000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The option, which provided vesting in 3 equal annual installments beginning 09/25/2004, was cancelled pursuant to Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of July 8, 2007, by and among Blue Jay Acquisition Corporation, Blue Jay Merger Corporation and Sequa Corporation (the &quot;Merger Agreement&quot;) in exchange for a cash payment representing the difference between the exercise price of the option and the exchange price of the stock under the Merger Agreement of $175 per share.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/Donna Costello</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2007-12-04</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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X0202
4
2007-12-03
0
0000095301
SEQUA CORP /DE/
SQAA
0001336064
Costello Donna
SEQUA CORPORATION
200 PARK AVENUE
NEW YORK
NY
10166
0
1
0
0
Vice President & Controller
Employee stock option (right to buy)
41.7
2007-12-03
4
D
0
1000
133.3
D
2008-09-25
Class A Common
1000
0
D
The option, which provided vesting in 3 equal annual installments beginning 09/25/2004, was cancelled pursuant to Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of July 8, 2007, by and among Blue Jay Acquisition Corporation, Blue Jay Merger Corporation and Sequa Corporation (the "Merger Agreement") in exchange for a cash payment representing the difference between the exercise price of the option and the exchange price of the stock under the Merger Agreement of $175 per share.
/s/Donna Costello
2007-12-04