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

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2006-05-30</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>1</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001054881</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>JENSEN DALE M</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>4021 E LAMAR ROAD</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>PARADISE VALLEY</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>AZ</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>85253</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2006-05-30</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>821824.5</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>JDMD Investments, L.L.C.</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Pursuant to the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of January 31, 2006 and as amended on April 20, 2006, by and among Stratford American Corporation (&quot;Stratford&quot;), JDMD Investments, L.L.C. (&quot;JDMD&quot;), Stratford Holdings Investment, L.L.C. and Stratford Acquisition, L.L.C., upon completion of the going-private merger, shares of Stratford common stock held by all holders of Stratford common stock other than shares held in the treasury of Stratford or owned by JDMD were automatically cancelled and converted into the right to receive $0.90 per share in cash, without interest.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">These shares were owned directly by JDMD, a ten percent owner of Stratford, and indirectly by Dale M. Jensen as a 25% member of JDMD.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Dale M. Jensen</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2006-06-01</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
