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

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

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    <periodOfReport>2016-01-29</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001048695</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>F5 NETWORKS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>FFIV</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001132089</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>EAMES EDWARD JULIAN</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O F5 NETWORKS, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>401 ELLIOTT AVE. WEST</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SEATTLE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>WA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>98119</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
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            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>EVP, Chief Operations Officer</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

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                <transactionPricePerShare>
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    <derivativeTable>
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                <footnoteId id="F5"/>
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            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
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                <transactionShares>
                    <value>956</value>
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                <transactionPricePerShare>
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            <exerciseDate>
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            <expirationDate>
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            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
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                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
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                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
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                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
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                <footnoteId id="F5"/>
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            <transactionTimeliness>
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                <transactionPricePerShare>
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            <expirationDate>
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            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
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                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>946</value>
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            </underlyingSecurity>
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                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
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        <derivativeTransaction>
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                <footnoteId id="F5"/>
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            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
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                <transactionPricePerShare>
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            <securityTitle>
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                <footnoteId id="F5"/>
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                <value></value>
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                <transactionShares>
                    <value>762</value>
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                    <value>0.00</value>
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                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
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            <expirationDate>
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                    <value>762</value>
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                    <value>11439</value>
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    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Shares acquired based on performance targets for the November 1, 2012, November 1, 2013, November 3, 2014 and November 2, 2015 awards of Restricted Stock Units.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Shares acquired upon vesting of the November 1, 2012, November 1, 2013,  November 3, 2014, and November 2, 2015 awards of service-based Restricted Stock Units.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">This transaction was executed pursuant to a Rule 10b5-1 trading plan, in multiple trades at prices ranging from $92.8667 to $93.86. The reported price is the weighted average sale price. The reporting person undertakes to provide to the Company, any security holder of the Company, or Securities and Exchange Commission staff, upon request, complete information regarding the number of shares sold at each separate price.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">This transaction was executed pursuant to a Rule 10b5-1 trading plan, in multiple trades at prices ranging from $93.88 to $94.19. The reported price is the weighted average sale price. The reporting person undertakes to provide to the Company, any security holder of the Company, or Securities and Exchange Commission staff, upon request, complete information regarding the number of shares sold at each separate price.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">Each Restricted Stock Unit represents a contingent right to receive one share of F5 Networks, Inc. Common Stock on the vest date.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F6">The November 1, 2012 award of service-based Restricted Stock Units vests in sixteen equal quarterly increments beginning February 1, 2013.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F7">If the reporting person continues to serve as an officer of the Company on the vest date, the corresponding number of shares of Common Stock of F5 Networks, Inc. will be issued to the reporting person on the vest date.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F8">The November 1, 2013 award of service-based Restricted Stock Units vests in sixteen equal quarterly increments beginning February 1, 2014.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F9">The November 3, 2014 award of service-based Restricted Stock Units vests in sixteen equal quarterly increments beginning February 1, 2015.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F10">This November 2, 2015 award of service-based Restricted Stock Units vests in sixteen equal quarterly increments beginning February 1, 2016.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Scot F. Rogers by Power of Attorney</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2016-02-02</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
