-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 JnG88m+DNzja8nS854yeQHCvoik7CNGj/vrHlXnIybtweJ8dLq79s/Yg962RRQ5y
 Z0pLFCP9n99JrbpOU47CkA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000906318-03-000133.txt : 20030625
<SEC-HEADER>0000906318-03-000133.hdr.sgml : 20030625
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030624175117
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000906318-03-000133
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030314
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030625

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			GINNAN ROBERT M
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001189872

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-11699
		FILM NUMBER:		03755681

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		160 WOODSTREAM DRIVE
		CITY:			SPRINGBORO
		STATE:			OH
		ZIP:			45066

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			STANDARD REGISTER CO
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000093456
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	MANIFOLD BUSINESS FORMS [2761]
		IRS NUMBER:				310455440
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			OH
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0103

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		600 ALBANY ST
		CITY:			DAYTON
		STATE:			OH
		ZIP:			45401
		BUSINESS PHONE:		5134341000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		600 ALBANY STREET
		STREET 2:		P O BOX 1167
		CITY:			DAYTON
		STATE:			OH
		ZIP:			45401-1167
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>

<ownershipDocument>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2003-03-14</periodOfReport>


    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000093456</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>STANDARD REGISTER CO</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>SR</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001189872</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>GINNAN ROBERT M</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>1</isOther>
            <otherText>Controller</otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeSecurity>
        <securityTitle>
            <value>Common Stock</value>
            <footnoteId id="F1"/>
        </securityTitle>
        <transactionDate>
            <value>2003-03-14</value>
        </transactionDate>
        <transactionCoding>
            <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
            <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
            <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
        </transactionCoding>
        <transactionTimeliness>
            <value></value>
        </transactionTimeliness>
        <transactionAmounts>
            <transactionShares>
                <value>500</value>
            </transactionShares>
            <transactionValue>
                <value>13.57</value>
            </transactionValue>
            <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                <value>A</value>
            </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
        </transactionAmounts>
        <postTransactionAmounts>
            <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                <value>1724</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
        </postTransactionAmounts>
        <ownershipNature>
            <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <value>D</value>
            </directOrIndirectOwnership>
        </ownershipNature>
    </nonDerivativeSecurity>

    <derivativeSecurity>
        <securityTitle>
            <value>Option to buy</value>
            <footnoteId id="F3"/>
        </securityTitle>
        <conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <value>13.57</value>
        </conversionOrExercisePrice>
        <transactionDate>
            <value>2003-03-14</value>
        </transactionDate>
        <transactionCoding>
            <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
            <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
            <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
        </transactionCoding>
        <transactionTimeliness>
            <value></value>
        </transactionTimeliness>
        <transactionAmounts>
            <transactionShares>
                <value>1500</value>
            </transactionShares>
            <transactionValue>
                <value>0</value>
            </transactionValue>
            <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                <value>A</value>
            </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
        </transactionAmounts>
        <exerciseDate>
            <value>2004-03-14</value>
            <footnoteId id="F4"/>
        </exerciseDate>
        <expirationDate>
            <value>2013-03-14</value>
        </expirationDate>
        <underlyingSecurity>
            <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </underlyingSecurityTitle>
            <underlyingSecurityShares>
                <value>1500</value>
            </underlyingSecurityShares>
        </underlyingSecurity>
        <postTransactionAmounts>
            <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                <value>39000</value>
            </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
        </postTransactionAmounts>
        <ownershipNature>
            <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <value>D</value>
            </directOrIndirectOwnership>
        </ownershipNature>
    </derivativeSecurity>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Awarded pursuant to The Standard Register Company 2002 Equity Incentive Compensation Plan.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Total adjusted due to prior clerical error which does not reflect any transaction.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Awarded pursuant to The Standard Register Company 1995 Stock Option Plan.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">The options to buy vest in two equal annual installments with 750 vesting on 03/14/2004 and 750 vesting on 03/14/2005.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Kathryn A. Lamme, by power of attorney</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-06-23</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

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