-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 NSSszdzo3cUZflIW6s/kJMtkaqA0YvpMFdazu8yPnq8KtT6O77jXfaoLC04pLg4V
 6o8vBFZAnZMZbWV1MbsF6w==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001171939-04-000005.txt : 20041210
<SEC-HEADER>0001171939-04-000005.hdr.sgml : 20041210
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20041210104323
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001171939-04-000005
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20041208
FILED AS OF DATE:		20041210
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20041210

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			STEELCASE INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001050825
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	OFFICE FURNITURE (NO WOOD) [2522]
		IRS NUMBER:				380819050
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			MI
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0225

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		901 44TH ST
		CITY:			GRAND RAPIDS
		STATE:			MI
		ZIP:			49508
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6162472710

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		901 44TH ST
		CITY:			GRAND RAPIDS
		STATE:			MI
		ZIP:			49508

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			PEW MARY I TRUST
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001171939
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			MI
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-13873
		FILM NUMBER:		041194961

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		FIFTH THIRD BANK
		STREET 2:		111 LYON ST N.W. MD RMNR1B
		CITY:			GRAND RAPIDS
		STATE:			MI
		ZIP:			49503

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		FIFTH THIRD BANK
		STREET 2:		111 LYON ST. N.W. MD RMNR1B
		CITY:			GRAND RAPIDS
		STATE:			MI
		ZIP:			49503
</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>2004-12-08</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>1</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001050825</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>STEELCASE INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>SCS</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001171939</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>PEW MARY I TRUST</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>FIFTH THIRD BANK</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>111 LYON ST. N.W. MD RMNR1B</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>GRAND RAPIDS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MI</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>49503</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class B Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-12-08</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>5905842</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Class A Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>5905842</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Shares of Class B Common Stock are convertible upon demand into shares of Class A Common Stock on a one-for-one basis.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Transfer to other trust for the benefit of Mary Idema Pew</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Not applicable</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Fifth Third Bank, Co-trustee of the Mary I. Pew Trust, by /s/ M. Gayle Robinson</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-12-10</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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