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

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2016-03-10</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>1</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000769397</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>AUTODESK INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>ADSK</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001107310</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>EMINENCE CAPITAL, LP</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>65 EAST 55TH STREET</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>25TH FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10022</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>1</isOther>
            <otherText>SEE REMARKS</otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001628803</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Eminence GP, LLC</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>65 EAST 55TH STREET, 25TH FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10022</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>1</isOther>
            <otherText>SEE REMARKS</otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001362459</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Sandler Ricky C</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>65 EAST 55TH STREET, 25TH FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10022</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>1</isOther>
            <otherText>SEE REMARKS</otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <footnotes></footnotes>

    <remarks>As described in Amendment No. 2 to the Schedule 13D filed by the Reporting Persons on March 11, 2016, on March 10, 2016, Eminence Capital, LP entered into an agreement with Sachem Head Capital Management LP (the &quot;Termination Agreement&quot;) pursuant to which the Reporting Persons ceased to be a group with the Sachem Head Persons (as defined in the Schedule 13D filed by the Reporting Persons on November 16, 2015).  As a result of the Termination Agreement, the Reporting Persons shall no longer be deemed to be part of a group that beneficially owns more than 10% of the outstanding shares of common stock of the Issuer.</remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>EMINENCE CAPITAL, LP, By: Eminence Capital GP, LLC, /s/ Ricky C. Sandler, Managing Member</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2016-03-11</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>EMINENCE GP, LLC, /s/ Ricky C. Sandler, Managing Member</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2016-03-11</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Ricky C. Sandler</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2016-03-11</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
