<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2014-02-27</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001000228</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>HENRY SCHEIN INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>HSIC</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001178445</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>MATTHEWS NORMAN S</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O HENRY SCHEIN, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>135 DURYEA ROAD</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>MELVILLE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>11747</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, par value $0.01 per share</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2014-02-27</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1561</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0.00</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>23343</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>9400</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Trustees</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Deferred Compensation Plan Phantom Stock</value>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2014-02-27</value>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>15518</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F5"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F7"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F6"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F6"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>15518</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F5"/>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>15518</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F5"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Grant of time-based restricted stock units pursuant to the Issuer's 1996 Non-Employee Director Stock Incentive Plan, as amended. Such restricted stock units will vest subject to (i) the passage of a specified period of time and (ii) the reporting person's continued performance of services for the Issuer.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Represents shares held by Norman S. Matthews' wife, and Peter Banks as trustees of a trust for the benefit of Mr. Matthews' wife.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">This Form 4 includes the balance of the reporting person's phantom stock account under the Issuer's Non-Employee Director Deferred Compensation Plan (the &quot;Plan&quot;), representing exempt transactions under the Plan since the reporting person's initial participation therein.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">Each share of phantom stock is the economic equivalent of one share of the Issuer's common stock.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">Represents the aggregate number of shares of phantom stock allocated to the reporting person under the Plan as of the date hereof based on the closing price of a share of the Issuer's common stock on February 27, 2014.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F6">The balance in the reporting person's phantom stock account is distributed to the reporting person in Issuer common stock following the termination of the reporting person's directorship, the reporting person's death or disability or a change of control of the Issuer.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F7">The number of shares of phantom stock credited to the reporting person's phantom stock account is determined by dividing the amount of deferred eligible director fees by the closing price of a share of Issuer common stock on each applicable award date.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks>Exhibit 24 - Limited Power of Attorney</remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Jennifer Ferrero (as Attorney-in-Fact for Norman S. Matthews)</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2014-03-03</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
