<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0000945094-04-000532
<TYPE>4
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>1
<PERIOD>20040518
<FILING-DATE>20040520
<REPORTING-OWNER>
<OWNER-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>WILSON THOMAS J
<CIK>0001190466
</OWNER-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>4
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>001-11840
<FILM-NUMBER>04822271
</FILING-VALUES>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>2775 SANDERS RD
<CITY>NORTHBROOK
<STATE>IL
<ZIP>60062
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</REPORTING-OWNER>
<ISSUER>
<COMPANY-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>ALLSTATE CORP
<CIK>0000899051
<ASSIGNED-SIC>6331
<IRS-NUMBER>363871531
<STATE-OF-INCORPORATION>DE
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>1231
</COMPANY-DATA>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>2775 SANDERS ROAD
<CITY>NORTHBROOK
<STATE>IL
<ZIP>60062
<PHONE>8474025000
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>2775 SANDERS ROAD
<CITY>NORTHBROOK
<STATE>IL
<ZIP>60062
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</ISSUER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-05-18</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000899051</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ALLSTATE CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>ALL</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001190466</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>WILSON THOMAS J</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>2775 SANDERS RD</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NORTHBROOK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>IL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>60062</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>1</isOther>
            <otherText>President, Allstate Protection</otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-05-18</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>4035</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>43.31</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>93152.247</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2558.055</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>by 401(k) Plan</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Delivery of shares to the issuer to satisfy tax withholding obligation in connection with vesting of previously granted restricted stock.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Form also reflects 401.381 shares acquired during period of January 3, 2004 through April 1, 2004 through The DirectSERVICE Investment Program which reinvests dividends paid on The Allstate Corporation common shares.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Reflects acquisition of 14.771 shares of The Allstate Corporation common stock since February 5, 2004 under The Savings and Profit Sharing Fund of Allstate Employees, a 401(k) plan, pursuant to the most recent plan statement, dated May 12, 2004.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Katherine A. Smith (POA) for Thomas J. Wilson</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-05-20</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SUBMISSION>
