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

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2009-09-30</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000108516</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>WORTHINGTON INDUSTRIES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>WOR</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001184881</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>RIBEAU SIDNEY A</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>WORTHINGTON INDUSTRIES, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>200 OLD WILSON BRIDGE ROAD</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>COLUMBUS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>OH</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>43085</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Shares</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-09-30</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2900</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0.00</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>11600</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Phantom Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-09-29</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>53</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>15.84</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F5"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>common shares</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>53</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>11525</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Non-Qualified Stock Option (Right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>13.90</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-09-30</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>9750</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0.00</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2010-09-29</value>
                <footnoteId id="F6"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2019-09-29</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>common shares</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>9750</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>9750</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">An award of restricted stock was granted pursuant to the Worthington Industries, Inc. 2006 Equity Incentive Plan for Non-Employee Directors.  The restricted stock will vest on the earlier to occur of (1) the first anniversary of the grant date (September 30, 2010); or (2) the date on which the next Annual Meeting of Shareholders of Worthington Industries, Inc. is held, unless a previous deferral election has been made.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The accounts track common shares on a one-for-one basis</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">The amount reported represents additional unfunded theoretical common shares (i.e. phantom stock) credited pursuant to the dividend reinvestment feature of Worthington Industries, Inc.'s Deferred Compensation Plan for Directors.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">The account balances related to the theoretical common shares may be immediately transferred to other investment options under the terms of the deferred compensation plans.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">The amounts reported represent unfunded theoretical common shares (i.e., phantom stock) credited to the accounts of the reporting person under Worthington Industries, Inc.'s Deferred Compensation Plan for Directors.  Distributions are made only in cash, and generally commence upon leaving the Company's Board of Directors.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F6">This non-qualified stock option was granted pursuant to the Worthington Industries, Inc. 2006 Equity Incentive Plan for Non-Employee Directors and will become vested and fully exercisable on the first to occur: (i) the first anniversary of the grant date (September 30, 2010) or (ii) the date of the next Annual Meeting of Shareholders of Worthington Industries, Inc. following the grant date.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/Dale T. Brinkman, as attorney-in-fact for Sidney A. Ribeau</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2009-09-30</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
