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

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2013-02-08</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000797465</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>STANLEY FURNITURE CO INC.</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>STLY</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001208396</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>HALEY MICHAEL P</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1641 FAIRYSTONE PARK HIGHWAY</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>STANLEYTOWN</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>VA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>24168</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>COMMON STOCK</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2013-02-08</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2143</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>4.6</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>19514</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">THE PRICE REPORTED IN COLUMN 4 IS A WEIGHTED AVERAGE PRICE. THESE SHARES WERE PURCHASED IN MULTIPLE TRANSACTIONS AT PRICES RANGING FROM $4.60 TO $4.61, INCLUSIVE.  THE REPORTING PERSON UNDERTAKES TO PROVIDE TO STANLEY FURNITURE CO., INC., ANY SECURITY HOLDER OF STANLEY FURNITURE CO., INC., OR THE STAFF OF THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION, UPON REQUEST, FULL INFORMATION REGARDING THE NUMBER OF SHARES PURCHASED AT EACH SEPARATE PRICE WITHIN THE RANGE SET FORTH IN THIS FOOTNOTE.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/a/Anita W. Wimmer as Power of Attorney</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2013-02-08</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
