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

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2005-07-07</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000809012</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>HOST AMERICA CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>CAFE</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001238229</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>RAMSEY ANNE</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O HOST AMERICA CORP</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>2 BROADWAY</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>HAMDEN</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CT</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>06518</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Corporate Secretary</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>STOCK OPTIONS (RIGHT TO BUY)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>2.87</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-07-07</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>12750</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2005-07-07</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2015-07-07</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>COMMON STOCK</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>12750</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>72500</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The option grant was approved by Host America Corporation's board of directors on July 7, 2005.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Includes (i) 1,000 options to purchase common stock at $5.00 per share; (ii) 10,000 options to purchase common stock at $2.25 per share; (iii) 8,750 options to purchase common stock at $4.00 per share; (iv) 5,000 options to purchase common stock at $2.6875 per share; (v) 7,500 options to purchase common stock at $2.45 per share; (vi) 12,750 options to purchase common stock at $2.00 per share; (vii) 12,750 options to purchase common stock at $7.30 per share; (viii) 12,750 options to purchase common stock at $2.87 per share; (ix) 2,000 publicly-held warrants to purchase common stock at $5.50 per share.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>ANNE RAMSEY</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-07-11</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
