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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 NKozOq01MAFH191bIHWAXeth42S9w71Guo8doM8dtUkD3Ze0FbAPziPU58k4J0Tu
 CGSgw+d45UidDs3vKn0eDQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001304900-08-000030.txt : 20080214
<SEC-HEADER>0001304900-08-000030.hdr.sgml : 20080214
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20080214174354
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001304900-08-000030
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	5
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20071231
FILED AS OF DATE:		20080214
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20080214

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
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			MD
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		280 PARK AVENUE
		STREET 2:		10TH FLOOR
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10017
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2128323232

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		280 PARK AVENUE
		STREET 2:		10TH FLOOR
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10017

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	COHEN & STEERS OPPORTUNITY TRUST INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19930714

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			STEERS ROBERT HAMILTON
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001181438

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		5
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	811-07154
		FILM NUMBER:		08619688

	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:		C/O COHEN & STEERS, INC.
		STREET 2:		280 PARK AVENUE
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10017
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>5
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>5</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2007-12-31</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <form3HoldingsReported>0</form3HoldingsReported>

    <form4TransactionsReported>0</form4TransactionsReported>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001181438</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>STEERS ROBERT HAMILTON</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O COHEN &amp; STEERS, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>280 PARK AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10017</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Co-Chairman</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2007-12-31</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>5</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2569.91</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>18922.91</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Dividend reinvestment.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Monthly reinvestment of dividends at various prices.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">17596.91 shares held directly. 1326 shares held indirectly through wife's account.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Robert Steers</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-02-14</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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