<?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>0001312225</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Dowling John J III</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>Sr. VP, Legal &amp; Corp. Secy.</officerTitle>
        </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>110.76</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>175</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <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="F2"/>
            </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>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Employee stock option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>54.41</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>3500</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>120.59</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2010-05-05</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Class A Common</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>3500</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Shares held in the Sequa 401(k) Plan 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 (the &quot;Merger Agreement&quot;).</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The option, which provided vesting in 3 equal annual installments beginning 09/25/2004, was cancelled pursuant to 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.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">The option, which provided vesting in 3 equal annual installments beginning 5/5/06, was cancelled pursuant to 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.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/John J. Dowling III</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2007-12-04</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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X0202
4
2007-12-03
0
0000095301
SEQUA CORP /DE/
SQAA
0001312225
Dowling John J III
SEQUA CORPORATION
200 PARK AVENUE
NEW YORK
NY
10166
0
1
0
0
Sr. VP, Legal & Corp. Secy.
Class A Common
2007-12-03
4
D
0
110.76
175
D
0
D
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
Employee stock option (right to buy)
54.41
2007-12-03
4
D
0
3500
120.59
D
2010-05-05
Class A Common
3500
0
D
Shares held in the Sequa 401(k) Plan 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 (the "Merger Agreement").
The option, which provided vesting in 3 equal annual installments beginning 09/25/2004, was cancelled pursuant to 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.
The option, which provided vesting in 3 equal annual installments beginning 5/5/06, was cancelled pursuant to 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/John J. Dowling III
2007-12-04