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

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2007-05-03</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001179590</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>WEINSTEIN MARTIN</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O SEQUA CORP</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>200 PARK AVENUE, 44TH FL</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10166</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Vice Chairman &amp; CEO</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class A Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2007-05-03</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>50000</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>77158</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Restricted stock award issued under the Sequa Corporation 2007 Long-Term Stock Incentive Plan approved by Sequa Corporation's stockholders on May 3, 2007.  Shares vest at the rate of 1/5 (or 10,000) shares per year over 5 years; an additional 10,000 shares will be issued each year and will vest the following year, provided that certain performance targets are met.  Upon a change in control of Sequa Corporation, as defined in the Employment Agreement dated January 25, 2007 between Sequa Corporation and Martin Weinstein, the reporting person woulbe be entitled to receive the cash equivalent value of unvested restricted shares</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Includes 1,318 shares held in the Sequa 401(k) Plan.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/Martin Weinstein</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2007-05-07</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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X0202
4
2007-05-03
0
0000095301
SEQUA CORP /DE/
SQAA
0001179590
WEINSTEIN MARTIN
C/O SEQUA CORP
200 PARK AVENUE, 44TH FL
NEW YORK
NY
10166
1
1
0
0
Vice Chairman & CEO
Class A Common Stock
2007-05-03
4
A
0
50000
0
A
77158
D
Restricted stock award issued under the Sequa Corporation 2007 Long-Term Stock Incentive Plan approved by Sequa Corporation's stockholders on May 3, 2007.  Shares vest at the rate of 1/5 (or 10,000) shares per year over 5 years; an additional 10,000 shares will be issued each year and will vest the following year, provided that certain performance targets are met.  Upon a change in control of Sequa Corporation, as defined in the Employment Agreement dated January 25, 2007 between Sequa Corporation and Martin Weinstein, the reporting person woulbe be entitled to receive the cash equivalent value of unvested restricted shares
Includes 1,318 shares held in the Sequa 401(k) Plan.
/s/Martin Weinstein
2007-05-07