<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001304900-20-000002.txt : 20200820
<SEC-HEADER>0001304900-20-000002.hdr.sgml : 20200820
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20200820173322
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001304900-20-000002
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20200818
FILED AS OF DATE:		20200820
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20200820

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Ward C Edward Jr
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001304900

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	811-07154
		FILM NUMBER:		201120929

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O COHEN & STEERS
		STREET 2:		280 PARK AVENUE
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10017

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
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2020-08-18</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>0001304900</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Ward C Edward Jr</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O COHEN &amp; STEERS</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>280 PARK AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10017</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Cohen &amp; Steers Total Return Realty Fund, Inc.</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2020-08-18</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>3</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>12.42</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Disposed of all securities beneficially owned. Includes 3 shares which were acquired through dividend reinvestments at various prices at fair market value throughout the 2020 reporting year.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Dana A. DeVivo, Attorney-in-Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2020-08-20</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
