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

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2005-07-13</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001170753</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>BINDERMAN GAIL ALEXANDER MARK &amp; ZOFFNESS SHARON AS TR U/I DA</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>HARTMAN &amp; CRAVENLLP</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>460 PARK AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10022</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class B Common</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-07-13</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>57702</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>289736</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The 57,702 shares disposed of were distributed to Norman E. Alexander pursuant to the terms of an Indenture establishing the Trust dated April 13, 2004 (the &quot;Trust&quot;).  Mr. Alexander formed the Trust and he, his estate and/or issue are beneficiaries thereof.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/Mark Alexander, Trustee</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-07-15</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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X0202
4
2005-07-13
0
0000095301
SEQUA CORP /DE/
SQAB
0001170753
BINDERMAN GAIL ALEXANDER MARK & ZOFFNESS SHARON AS TR U/I DA
HARTMAN & CRAVENLLP
460 PARK AVENUE
NEW YORK
NY
10022
0
0
1
0
Class B Common
2005-07-13
4
J
0
57702
0
D
289736
D
The 57,702 shares disposed of were distributed to Norman E. Alexander pursuant to the terms of an Indenture establishing the Trust dated April 13, 2004 (the "Trust").  Mr. Alexander formed the Trust and he, his estate and/or issue are beneficiaries thereof.
/s/Mark Alexander, Trustee
2005-07-15