-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001376092-10-000001.txt : 20100107
<SEC-HEADER>0001376092-10-000001.hdr.sgml : 20100107
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20100107170045
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001376092-10-000001
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20100105
FILED AS OF DATE:		20100107
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20100107

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Morgan Charles W
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001376092

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-14851
		FILM NUMBER:		10515357

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		3015 16TH STREET SW, SUITE 100
		CITY:			MINOT
		STATE:			ND
		ZIP:			58701

	FORMER NAME:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	Morgan CW Chip
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	20060920

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			INVESTORS REAL ESTATE TRUST
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000798359
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUSTS [6798]
		IRS NUMBER:				450311232
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			ND
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0408

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		3015 16TH STREET SW, SUITE 100
		STREET 2:		PO BOX 1988
		CITY:			MINOT
		STATE:			ND
		ZIP:			58702-1988
		BUSINESS PHONE:		701-837-4738

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		3015 16TH STREET SW, SUITE 100
		STREET 2:		PO BOX 1988
		CITY:			MINOT
		STATE:			ND
		ZIP:			58702-1988
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2010-01-05</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000798359</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>INVESTORS REAL ESTATE TRUST</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>iret</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001376092</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Morgan Charles W</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>3015 16TH STREET SW, SUITE 100</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>MINOT</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>ND</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>58701</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 of Beneficial Interest</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2010-01-05</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1097.561</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>8.2</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>8406.576</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Voluntary cash contribution purchase under the issuer's Distribution Reinvestment and Share Purchase Plan.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Michelle R. Saari, Attorney-in-Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-01-07</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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