<ownershipDocument><schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion>    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-06-27</periodOfReport><notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16><issuer><issuerCik>0000094673</issuerCik><issuerName>STORAGE TECHNOLOGY CORP</issuerName>        <issuerTradingSymbol>STK</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId><rptOwnerCik>0001214934</rptOwnerCik><rptOwnerName>LEE ROBERT E</rptOwnerName></reportingOwnerId><reportingOwnerAddress><rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1><rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2><rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity><rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState><rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode></reportingOwnerAddress><reportingOwnerRelationship><isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle></officerTitle><otherText></otherText></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-06-27</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved><footnoteId id="F1"/></transactionCoding><transactionTimeliness><value></value></transactionTimeliness><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>355</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>25.4</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>10764</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeSecurity><footnotes><footnote id="F1">The  common stock equivalents were accrued under the Storage Technology Corporation 1995 Equity Participation Plan, as amended, and will be settled 100% in shares of Storage Technology Corporation common stock upon termination of service as a director.</footnote><footnote id="F2">In addition to direct ownership, Mr. Lee has indirect ownership of 1,000 shares held in Trust.</footnote></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>Donald Kronenberg, Attorney-in-Fact</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-06-27</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>
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X0101
4
2003-06-27
0
0000094673
STORAGE TECHNOLOGY CORP
STK
0001214934
LEE ROBERT E
1
0
0
0
Common Stock
2003-06-27
4
A
0
355
25.4
A
10764
D
The  common stock equivalents were accrued under the Storage Technology Corporation 1995 Equity Participation Plan, as amended, and will be settled 100% in shares of Storage Technology Corporation common stock upon termination of service as a director.
In addition to direct ownership, Mr. Lee has indirect ownership of 1,000 shares held in Trust.
Donald Kronenberg, Attorney-in-Fact
2003-06-27