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

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2017-06-01</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000010456</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>BAXTER INTERNATIONAL INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>NYSE: BAX</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001040273</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Third Point LLC</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>390 PARK AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10022</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>1</isOther>
            <otherText>See Remarks</otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001300345</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Loeb Daniel S</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O THIRD POINT LLC</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>390 PARK AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10022</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>1</isOther>
            <otherText>See Remarks</otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, $1.00 par value (&quot;Common Stock&quot;)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2017-06-01</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>5000000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>59.50</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>41001790</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See Footnote</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Except as otherwise noted herein, the securities disclosed in this Form 4 are owned by certain funds (the &quot;Funds&quot;) managed by Third Point LLC (&quot;Third Point&quot;). Daniel S. Loeb is the Chief Executive Officer of Third Point. By reason of the provisions of Rule 16a-1 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, Third Point and Mr. Loeb may be deemed to be the beneficial owners of the securities beneficially owned by the Funds. Third Point and Mr. Loeb hereby disclaim beneficial ownership of all securities, except to the extent of any indirect pecuniary interest therein.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks>Munib Islam, a partner and the head of equities research at Third Point, serves on the board of directors of the Issuer. For purposes of Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the Reporting Persons may be deemed directors by deputization by virtue of Mr. Islam's service on the Issuer's board of directors.</remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>THIRD POINT LLC, /s/ William Song, as Attorney-in-Fact for Daniel S. Loeb, Chief Executive Officer of Third Point LLC</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2017-06-02</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>DANIEL S. LOEB, /s/ William Song, as Attorney-in-Fact for Daniel S. Loeb</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2017-06-02</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
