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

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2005-11-07</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000836435</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>STRATFORD AMERICAN CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>STFA.OB</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001009700</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>SHULTZ MEL L</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>2400 E. ARIZONA BILTMORE CIRCLE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>BLDG. 2, SUITE 1270</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>PHOENIX</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>AZ</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>85016</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>President</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-11-07</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>116943.5</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0.75</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>821824.5</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>JDMD Investments, L.L.C.</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">JDMD Investments, L.L.C. acquired these shares through a private purchase.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Since Mel L. Shultz's last report, Mr. Shultz transferred 704,881 shares that he held directly to the Shultz Family Trust.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">These shares are owned directly by JDMD Investments, L.L.C., a ten percent owner of the issuer, and indirectly by Mel L. Shultz as Trustee of the Shultz Family Trust, which is a 25% member of JDMD Investments, L.L.C.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Mel L. Shultz, individually and as trustee of the Shultz Family Trust</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-11-07</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
