-----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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 4EMAM1c9Hk2Y2aSKaGyJPw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001210099-10-000011.txt : 20100511
<SEC-HEADER>0001210099-10-000011.hdr.sgml : 20100511
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20100511172915
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001210099-10-000011
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20100511
FILED AS OF DATE:		20100511
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20100511

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ATTEA ROBERT J
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001209805

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-13820
		FILM NUMBER:		10822031

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O SOVRAN SELF STORAGE INC
		STREET 2:		6467 MAIN STREET
		CITY:			BUFFALO
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			14221

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SOVRAN SELF STORAGE INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000944314
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUSTS [6798]
		IRS NUMBER:				161194043
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			MD
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		6467 MAIN ST
		CITY:			WILLIAMSVILLE
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			14221
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7166331850

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		6467 MAIN ST
		CITY:			WILLIAMSVILLE
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			14221
</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>2010-05-11</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000944314</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>SOVRAN SELF STORAGE INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>sss</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001209805</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>ATTEA ROBERT J</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O SOVRAN SELF STORAGE INC</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>6467 MAIN STREET</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BUFFALO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>14221</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Chairman of Board, CEO</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2010-05-11</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>20000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>39.5</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>190107</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Does not include 894 shares held by daughter.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>David L. Rogers - attorney in fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-05-11</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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