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

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2010-02-12</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001462613</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Falck Danmark A/S</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>POLITITORVET</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>COPENHAGEN V</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>G7</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>DK-1780</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription>DENMARK</rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001462614</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Falck A/S</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>POLITITORVET</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>COPENHAGEN V</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>G7</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>DK-1780</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription>DENMARK</rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001462752</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Falck Holding A/S</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>POLITITORVET</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>COPENHAGEN V</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>G7</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>DK-1780</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription>DENMARK</rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001463813</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Nordic Capital V Alpha Ltd</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>26 ESPLANADE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>ST. HELIER</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>JERSEY, CHANNEL ISLANDS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>X0</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>JE23QA</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription>UNITED KINGDOM</rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001463812</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Nordic Capital V Ltd</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>26 ESPLANADE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>ST. HELIER</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>JERSEY, CHANNEL ISLANDS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>X0</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>JE23QA</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription>UNITED KINGDOM</rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, par value $0.01</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2010-02-12</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>5130</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>6</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2782165</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">As of the date of this filing, Falck Danmark A/S, a limited liability company organized under the laws of Denmark (&quot;Falck Danmark&quot;), is the owner of 2,782,165  shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share (the &quot;Common Stock&quot;) of Rural/Metro Corporation (the &quot;Issuer&quot;).</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Due to their relationships with Falck Danmark or each other, Falck A/S, a limited liability company organized under the laws of Denmark (&quot;Falck AS&quot;); Falck Holding A/S, a limited liability company organized under the laws of Denmark (&quot;Falck Holding&quot;); Nordic Capital V Limited, a company registered in Jersey, Channel Islands (&quot;Nordic Capital V&quot;); and Nordic Capital V Alpha Limited, a company registered in Jersey, Channel Islands (&quot;Nordic Capital V Alpha&quot;), may be deemed to beneficially own the shares held by Falck Danmark.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Neither the filing of this Form 4 nor any of its contents shall be deemed to constitute an admission that Falck AS, Falck Holding, Nordic Capital V and Nordic Capital V Alpha are, for the purposes of Sections 13(d), 13(g) or 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the &quot;Act&quot;), or for any other purpose, the beneficial owners of any securities.  Pursuant to Rule 13d-4 of the Act, Falck AS, Falck Holding, Nordic Capital V and Nordic Capital V Alpha disclaim beneficial ownership of the shares of the Issuer held by Falck Danmark. Falck AS, Falck Holding, Nordic Capital V and Nordic Capital V Alpha do not have or share a pecuniary interest in the shares of the Issuer held by Falck Danmark for purposes of Rule 16a-1(a)(2) under the Act.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Thomas Hinrichsen, General Counsel, Vice President, FALCK DANMARK A/S</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-02-16</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Thomas Hinrichsen, General Counsel, Vice President, FALCK A/S</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-02-16</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Thomas Hinrichsen, General Counsel, Vice President, FALCK HOLDING A/S</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-02-16</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Lynda Elliott, Director, NORDIC CAPITAL V LIMITED</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-02-16</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Lynda Elliott, Director, NORDIC CAPITAL V ALPHA LIMITED</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-02-16</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
