-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 Md1Way8XwXdtkO7CLOf5hBNEyeMgGJ8iqzfVfuUvbDITcOq1fGo//cPl+9cnnIQf
 NR0vhPqX9XFw5JfMgDGdyg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001042776-07-000017.txt : 20070518
<SEC-HEADER>0001042776-07-000017.hdr.sgml : 20070518
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20070518165529
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001042776-07-000017
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20070518
FILED AS OF DATE:		20070518
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20070518

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 500
		CITY:			NORCROSS
		STATE:			GA
		ZIP:			30092
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7703253700

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		6200 THE CORNERS PKWY
		STREET 2:		STE 500
		CITY:			NORCROSS
		STATE:			GA
		ZIP:			30092

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Owens Raymond Lee
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001397459

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-25739
		FILM NUMBER:		07865386

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		770-325-3700

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		6200 THE CORNERS PARKWAY
		STREET 2:		STE. 500
		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>2007-05-18</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001397459</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Owens Raymond Lee</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>6200 THE CORNERS PARKWAY</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>STE. 500</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NORCROSS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>GA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>30092</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Exec VP- Capital Markets</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2007-05-18</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>17500</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>10</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>17500</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Raymond L. Owens</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2007-05-18</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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