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

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2009-10-06</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000084290</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ROBBINS &amp; MYERS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>RBN</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001295366</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Wallace Peter C</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O ROBBINS &amp; MYERS, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>51 PLUM STREET, SUITE 260</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>DAYTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>OH</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>45440</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>President and CEO</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Shares</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-10-06</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>12120</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0.00</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>196482</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Shares</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2120</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>Shares held by Robbins &amp; Myers, Inc. Employee Savings Plan Trust as of August 31, 2009.</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Option (Right to Buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>22.33</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-10-06</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>51290</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0.00</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2010-10-06</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2019-10-06</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Shares</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>51290</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>51290</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Restricted stock units (&quot;RSU's&quot;) granted under Robbins &amp; Myers, Inc. 2004 Stock Incentive Plan; RSU's vest and become not subject to forfeiture in equal annual installments over a three-year period provided that the reporting person is employed by the issuer on the particular vesting date.  Each vested RSU is converted into one share of common stock of the issuer upon the earlier of (i) the reporting person's termination of employment with the issuer or (ii) the third anniversary of the RSU grant date.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Option granted under Robbins &amp; Myers, Inc. 2004 Stock Incentive Plan; becomes exercisable for 1/3 of shares one year after date of grant; 2/3 of shares after two years and 100% of shares after three years.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>PETER C. WALLACE

by /s/ Linn S. Harson, attorney in fact pursuant to previously filed Power of Attorney</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2009-10-08</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
