<?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>0001211582</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>LEFRAK RICHARD S</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O LEFRAK ORGANIZATION INC</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>40 WEST 57TH STREET</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10019</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>2007-12-03</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>D</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1654</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>175</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>7346</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class A Common</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <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>7346</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Disposed of 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.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Forfeited under the terms of the Sequa Corporation 1998 Directors' Stock Compensation Plan and the 2003 Sequa Corporation Directors' Stock Award Plan.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/Richard S. LeFrak</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2007-12-03</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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X0202
4
2007-12-03
0
0000095301
SEQUA CORP /DE/
SQAA
0001211582
LEFRAK RICHARD S
C/O LEFRAK ORGANIZATION INC
40 WEST 57TH STREET
NEW YORK
NY
10019
1
0
0
0
Class A Common
2007-12-03
4
D
0
1654
175
D
7346
D
Class A Common
2007-12-03
4
D
0
7346
0
D
0
D
Disposed of 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.
Forfeited under the terms of the Sequa Corporation 1998 Directors' Stock Compensation Plan and the 2003 Sequa Corporation Directors' Stock Award Plan.
/s/Richard S. LeFrak
2007-12-03