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

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2020-06-10</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>1</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001264587</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>STEMLINE THERAPEUTICS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>STML</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001633639</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Cline Darren S</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O STEMLINE THERAPEUTICS, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>750 LEXINGTON AVENUE, ELEVENTH FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10022</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>2020-06-10</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>U</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>35468</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Disposed of in connection with a tender offer made pursuant to an agreement and plan of merger among Issuer, Berlin-Chemie AG, and Mercury Merger Sub, Inc., dated as of May 3, 2020, in exchange for $11.50 per share, net to the holder in cash, plus one contractual contingent value right (&quot;CVR&quot;) per share.  Each CVR represents the right to receive a payment of $1.00 in cash upon the achievement of a certain milestone relating to the first sale of ELZONRIS in any one of certain countries following a marketing authorization approval by the European Commission. The CVR milestone must be achieved on or prior to December 31, 2021.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Kenneth Hoberman, Attorney-in-Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2020-06-10</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
