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

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2015-02-26</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000003545</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ALICO INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>alco</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001297619</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>TRAFELET REMY W</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O TRAFELET BROKAW CAPITAL MANAGEMENT,</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>410 PARK AVENUE, 17TH FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10022</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Alico, Inc., Common Stock, Par Value $1.00</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2015-02-26</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate>
                <value>2015-02-26</value>
            </deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2760</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>46.1509</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>91065</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Delta Offshore Master II, LTD</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Alico, Inc., Common Stock, Par Value $1.00</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>3891</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Alico, Inc., Common Stock, Par Value $1.00</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>3705457</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By 734 Investors , LLC</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Alico, Inc., Common Stock, Par Value $1.00</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>20000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By  George R. Brokaw</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">On February 26, 2015, Delta Offshore Master II, LTD (the &quot;Fund&quot;) purchased 2,760 shares of the Company's Common Stock.  Trafelet Brokaw Capital Management, L.P. (&quot;TCBM&quot;) serves as investment manager to the Fund and, in such capacity, exercises voting and investment control over securities held for the accounts of the Fund.  Trafelet &amp; Company, LLC (&quot;TC&quot;) serves as the general partner of TBCM.  Mr. Trafelet is the managing member of TC and may be deemed to have indirect beneficial ownership for the shares reported herein.  Mr. Trafelet disclaims beneficial ownership for the Company's Common Stock held by the Fund except to the extent of his pecuniary interest therein.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">On November 19, 2013, 734 Investors, LLC purchased 3,705,457 shares of the Company's Common Stock.  734 Agriculture, LLC is the managing member of 734 Investors, LLC.  Mr. Trafelet and George R. Brokaw are the members of 734 Agriculture, LLC.  Mr. Trafelet disclaims beneficial ownership of the Company's Common Stock held by 734 Investors, LLC except to the extent of his pecuniary interest therein.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">George R. Brokaw has entered into an agreement with 734 Investors, LLC to vote his shares as directed by 734 Investors, LLC.  As noted in footnote 2, 734 Agriculture, LLC is the managing member of 734 Investors, LLC and Mr. Trafelet and George R. Brokaw are the members of 734 Agriculture, LLC.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Remy W. Trafelet</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2015-03-02</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
