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

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2010-03-15</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000923284</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>INLAND REAL ESTATE CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>IRC</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001119191</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>GOODWIN DANIEL L</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>2901 BUTTERFIELD RD</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>OAK BROOK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>IL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>60523</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>2010-03-15</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>3000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>8.88</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>10626537</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Includes shares of IRC that are owned by Inland American Real Estate Trust, Inc.(&quot;American&quot;) and Inland Western Retail Real Estate Trust, Inc. (&quot;Western&quot;) in accounts managed by Inland Investment Advisors, Inc. (&quot;Adviser&quot;).  Mr. Goodwin directly and indirectly beneficially owns shares of American and Western and he disclaims beneficial ownership of shares owned by American and Western except to the extent of his respective ownership of those entities.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Includes 1,048,646 shares of common stock owned by Mr. Goodwin and/or his spouse.  Also includes common stock owned directly by the following entities: 833,820 by American; 315,820 by Western; 9,091 by The Inland Group, Inc.(TIGI); 179,250 by IMIC Stock Holding Company; 7,212,118 by Inland Investment Stock Holding Company (&quot;IISHC&quot;); 137,110 by Partnership Ownership Corporation (&quot;POC&quot;); and 890,682 by Eagle Financial Corporation. The latter four entities and Inland Real Estate Investment Cokrporation (&quot;IREIC&quot;)are wholly-owned subsidiaries of TIGI.  Adviser, IISHC and POC are wholly-owned subsidiaries of IREIC.  Mr. Goodwin is the controlling shareholder of TIGI and he disclaims beneficial ownership of shares owned by TIGI and its subsidiaries except to the extent of his respective ownership of these entities.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/Daniel L. Goodwin</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-03-16</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
