-----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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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001042776-07-000008.txt : 20070418
<SEC-HEADER>0001042776-07-000008.hdr.sgml : 20070418
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20070418112237
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001042776-07-000008
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20070416
FILED AS OF DATE:		20070418
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20070418

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			WELLS REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUST INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001042776
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	OPERATORS OF NONRESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS [6512]
		IRS NUMBER:				582328421
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			MD
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		6200 THE CORNERS PARKWAY
		STREET 2:		SUITE 250
		CITY:			NORCROSS
		STATE:			GA
		ZIP:			30092
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7704497800

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		6200 THE CORNERS PKWY
		STREET 2:		STE 250
		CITY:			NORCROSS
		STATE:			GA
		ZIP:			30092

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			WELLS LEO F III
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001255829

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-25739
		FILM NUMBER:		07772666

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		6200 THE CORNERS PKWY
		STREET 2:		STE 250
		CITY:			NORCROSS
		STATE:			GA
		ZIP:			30092
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7702438122

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		6200 THE CORNERS PARKWAY
		CITY:			NORCROSS
		STATE:			GA
		ZIP:			30092
</SEC-HEADER>
<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>2007-04-16</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001042776</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>WELLS REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUST INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>N/A</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001255829</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>WELLS LEO F III</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>6200 THE CORNERS PARKWAY</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NORCROSS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>GA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>30092</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>2007-04-16</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>19546302</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>8.9531</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>19573180.61</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Wells Advisory Services I, LLC</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2007-04-16</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>22339</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>8.9531</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>19573180.61</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Wells Capital, Inc.</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Shares issued to Wells Advisory Services I, LLC as consideration for the internalization of advisor companies into Wells Real Estate Investment Trust, Inc.  For more details on this transaction, see the proxy statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Section 14A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 on February 26, 2007.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Leo F. Wells, III is the sole shareholder of Wells Real Estate Funds, Inc., which is the sole shareholder of Wells Management Company, Inc. and Wells Capital, Inc.  Wells Management Company, Inc. and Wells Capital, Inc. own a 92% controlling interest in Wells Advisory Services I, LLC.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Shares issued to Wells Capital, Inc. as consideration for the internalization of advisor companies into Wells Real Estate Investment Trust, Inc.  For more details on this transaction, see the proxy statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Section 14A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 on February 26, 2007.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">Leo F. Wells, III is the sole shareholder of Wells Real Estate Funds, Inc., which is the sole shareholder of Wells Capital, Inc.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Leo F. Wells, III</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2007-04-18</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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