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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 VChU+bs+ib02Q3CbnqtfQBfDpGAw0dUjGKqE5z42ETkL5NhY8JTycs+yd74uOY6n
 XY+5X+7l8jAtZnI/gQ7EEg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001181436-04-000003.txt : 20040413
<SEC-HEADER>0001181436-04-000003.hdr.sgml : 20040413
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040413160023
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001181436-04-000003
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040413
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040413

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			NORMAN RICHARD J
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001181436

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	811-07154
		FILM NUMBER:		04730649

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O COHEN & STEERS
		STREET 2:		757 THIRD AVENUE 20TH FLOOR
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10017
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2128323232

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		7520 HACKAMORE DRIVE
		CITY:			POTOMAC
		STATE:			MD
		ZIP:			20854

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			COHEN & STEERS TOTAL RETURN REALTY FUND INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000891290
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	UNKNOWN SIC - 0000 [0000]
		IRS NUMBER:				133680664
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O MERRILL LYNCH ASSET MANAGEMENT
		STREET 2:		800 SCUDDERS MILL RD
		CITY:			PLAINSBORO
		STATE:			NJ
		ZIP:			08536
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6092822116

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O MERRILL LYNCH ASSET MANAGEMENT
		STREET 2:		800 SCUDDERS MILL RD
		CITY:			PLAINSBORO
		STATE:			NJ
		ZIP:			08536

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	COHEN & STEERS OPPORTUNITY TRUST INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19930714
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-04-13</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000891290</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>COHEN &amp; STEERS TOTAL RETURN REALTY FUND INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>RFI</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001181436</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>NORMAN RICHARD J</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>7520 HACKAMORE DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>POTOMAC</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MD</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>20854</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-04-13</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>15.9</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>5000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Richard J. Norman</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-04-13</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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