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

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4/A</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2008-12-01</periodOfReport>

    <dateOfOriginalSubmission>2008-12-03</dateOfOriginalSubmission>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000899051</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ALLSTATE CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>ALL</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001173593</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>RILEY H JOHN JR</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O THE ALLSTATE CORPORATION</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>2775 SANDERS ROAD</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NORTHBROOK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>IL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>60062-6127</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Restricted Stock Units</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-12-01</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>2000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2000</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) are granted under The Allstate Corporation 2006 Equity Compensation Plan for Non-Employee Directors, as amended and restated. Each RSU represents the right to receive one share of Allstate common stock upon the earlier of (i) the date of the reporting person's death or disability, and (ii) the date on which the reporting person is no longer serving as a director of Allstate.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The reporting person is amending the Form 4 to correct the aggregate number of previously awarded Restricted Stock Units beneficially owned as shown in Column 9 of Table II.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Katherine A. Smith, attorney-in-fact for Mr. Riley</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2009-06-03</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
