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

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4/A</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2008-12-16</periodOfReport>

    <dateOfOriginalSubmission>2008-12-18</dateOfOriginalSubmission>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000906326</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>RURAL/METRO CORP /DE/</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>RURL</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001430708</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Shackelton Christopher S</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>767 THIRD AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>35TH FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10017</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>common shares</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-12-16</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>6500</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2723117</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See Note 2</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Shares (RSUs) were granted by the Issuer.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">As a director of the Issuer, Mr. Shackelton was granted Restricted Stock Units (&quot;RSUs&quot;) pursuant to the 2009 Incentive Stock Plan.  A granted RSU represent a contingent right to receive one share of Rural/Metro Corporation common stock.  He holds these securities for the benefit of Coliseum Capital Partners (&quot;CC&quot;) a limited partnership, of which Coliseum Capital Management, LLC (together with CC, &quot;Coliseum&quot;) is investment advisor.  Mr. Shackelton is an employee of Coliseum.  Both Mr. Shackelton and Coliseum disclaim beneficial ownership of these RSUs except to the extent of that person's pecuniary interest therein.  The Company has issued Coliseum a waiver allowing beneficial ownership up to 14.99% of the Company's common stock without becoming an acquiring person as defined in the Company's stockholder rights plan (commonly referred to as a poison pill).</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Christopher Shackelton</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2009-11-24</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
