-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 FEm6/n95k9gk8y3r9YgVe6T1bnjr4eIKNztksnBEuKSKhEDqowEmtAZk1ka+mg3U
 Q7r9aAIc0y6xx9XMFonYeg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001209191-04-043318.txt : 20040903
<SEC-HEADER>0001209191-04-043318.hdr.sgml : 20040903
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040903105214
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001209191-04-043318
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040901
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040903
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20040903

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			UNITED STATIONERS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000355999
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	WHOLESALE-PAPER AND PAPER PRODUCTS [5110]
		IRS NUMBER:				363141189
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2200 E GOLF RD
		CITY:			DES PLAINES
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60016-1267
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8476995000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2200 E GOLF ROAD
		CITY:			DES PLAINES
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			600161267

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			HOWARD JEFFREY G
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001214210

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-10653
		FILM NUMBER:		041015489

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2200 E. GOLF ROAD
		CITY:			DES PLAINES
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60016
		BUSINESS PHONE:		847.699.5000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2200 E. GOLF ROAD
		CITY:			DES PLAINES
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60016
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>doc4.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4 SUBMISSION
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-09-01</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000355999</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>UNITED STATIONERS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>USTR</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001214210</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>HOWARD JEFFREY G</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O UNITED STATIONERS</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>2200 E. GOLF RD.</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>DES PLAINES</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>IL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>60016</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Sr. VP NATL ACCOUNTS &amp; NEW BUS</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Option (Right to Buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>41.38</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-09-01</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate>
                <value>2004-09-01</value>
            </deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>19000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0.00</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2005-09-01</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2014-09-01</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>19000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>19000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Stock Option: Exercisable in three substantially equal annual installments, beginning on September 1, 2005.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Deidra D. Gold
Deidra D. Gold, Attorney-in-Fact for Jeffrey G. Howard</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-09-03</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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