-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 TakrLkbp3vp6neFEyUWkDYZZPFo+Sr6SmDdWn4UsaOWd7Jx9M2Ne1YwNArlImbA9
 dLoDITBNRNf1vH/broCcfA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001104659-09-038410.txt : 20090616
<SEC-HEADER>0001104659-09-038410.hdr.sgml : 20090616
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20090616175412
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001104659-09-038410
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20090612
FILED AS OF DATE:		20090616
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20090616

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Ackerman Jeffrey C
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001358145

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-08738
		FILM NUMBER:		09894946

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O SEALY CORPORATION
		STREET 2:		ONE OFFICE PARKWAY
		CITY:			TRINITY
		STATE:			NC
		ZIP:			27370

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SEALY CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000748015
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	HOUSEHOLD FURNITURE [2510]
		IRS NUMBER:				363284147
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1202

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		520 PIKE ST
		CITY:			SEATTLE
		STATE:			WA
		ZIP:			98101
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2066251233

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		HALLE BUILDING 10TH FLOOR
		STREET 2:		1228 EUCLID AVE
		CITY:			CLEVELAND
		STATE:			OH
		ZIP:			44115

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	OHIO MATTRESS CO /DE/
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19900322
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>a4.xml
<DESCRIPTION>4
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2009-06-12</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000748015</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>SEALY CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>ZZ</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001358145</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Ackerman Jeffrey C</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O SEALY CORPORATION</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>ONE OFFICE PARKWAY</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>TRINITY</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NC</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>27370</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>EVP and CFO</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Restricted Stock Units</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>0</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-06-12</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2137344</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0.00</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2013-06-12</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common stock par value $0.01 per share</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>2137344</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2137344</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Initial grant is for 1,750,000 restricted stock units with an annual growth rate of 8% until vested.  The grant will vest on an annual basis over 4 years.  The grant, as a result of the annual 8% growth rate will result in 2,137,344 shares of common stock, if fully vested.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Kenneth L. Walker, by power of attorney</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2009-06-16</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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