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

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-08-09</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>1</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001085707</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>NEXTEL PARTNERS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>NXTP</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001135066</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>MADISON DEARBORN CAPITAL PARTNERS II LP</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>3 FIRST NATIONAL PLAZA</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 3800</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>CHICAGO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>IL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>60602</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001107638</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>PERRY JAMES N JR</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>MADISON DEARBORN CAPITAL PARTNERS II, LP</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>3 FIRST NATIONAL PLAZA, SUITE 3800</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>CHICAGO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>IL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>60602</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class A Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-08-09</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>6000000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>15.26</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>12349179</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">James N. Perry, Jr. is a managing director of Madison Dearborn Capital Partners II, L.P. and a director of the Issuer.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Madison Dearborn Capital Partners II, L.P. is a party to an amended and restated shareholders agreement dated as of February 18, 2000, as amended, among certain shareholders and as such may be part of a &quot;group&quot; for purposes of Section 16.  The Reporting Person declaims any beneficial ownership of the shares held by the other parties to such agreement.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>James N. Perry, Jr., on behalf of Madison Dearborn Capital Partners II, L.P.</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-08-09</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ James N. Perry, Jr.</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-08-09</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

