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

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2008-06-05</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000749251</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>GARTNER INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>IT</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001418814</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>ValueAct Holdings, L.P.</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>435 PACIFIC AVENUE, 4TH FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SAN FRANCISCO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>94133</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001418812</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>VA Partners I, LLC</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>435 PACIFIC AVENUE, 4TH FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SAN FRANCISCO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>94133</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001375350</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>VA Partners III, LLC</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>435 PACIFIC AVENUE, 4TH FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SAN FRANCISCO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>94133</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001351069</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>ValueAct Capital Management, L.P.</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>435 PACIFIC AVENUE, 4TH FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SAN FRANCISCO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>94133</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001351073</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>ValueAct Capital Management, LLC</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>435 PACIFIC AVENUE, 4TH FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SAN FRANCISCO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>94133</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001418813</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>ValueAct Holdings GP, LLC</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>435 PACIFIC AVENUE, 4TH FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SAN FRANCISCO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>94133</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-06-05</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2576</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>18639013</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See Footnote</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2151000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See Footnote</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Restricted Stock Units</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>0</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-06-05</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2576</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F5"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2008-06-05</value>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2008-06-05</value>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>2576</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See Footnotes</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Represents Restricted Stock Units that released to Jeffrey W. Ubben as an outside director of the Issuer on June 5, 2008.  Mr. Ubben transferred direct ownership of the reported stock to ValueAct Capital Master Fund, L.P. in a transaction not involving any consideration in accordance with his agreement with ValueAct Capital in which Mr. Ubben is deemed to hold the Common Stock for the benefit of ValueAct Capital Master Fund, L.P.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The reported stock is owned directly by ValueAct Capital Master Fund, L.P. and may be deemed to be beneficially owned by (i) VA Partners I, LLC as General Partner of ValueAct Capital Master Fund, L.P., (ii) ValueAct Capital Management, L.P. as the manager of of ValueAct Capital Master Fund, L.P., (iii) ValueAct Capital Management, LLC as General Partner of ValueAct Capital Management, L.P., (iv) ValueAct Holdings, L.P. as the sole owner of the limited partnership interests of ValueAct Capital Management, L.P. and the membership interests of ValueAct Capital Management, LLC and as the majority owner of the membership interests of VA Partners I, LLC and (v) ValueAct Holdings GP, LLC as General Partner of ValueAct Holdings, L.P.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">The reported stock is owned directly by ValueAct Capital Master Fund III, L.P. and may be deemed to be beneficially owned by (i) VA Partners III, LLC as General Partner of ValueAct Capital Master Fund III, L.P., (ii)  ValueAct Capital Management, L.P. as the manager of ValueAct Capital Master Fund III, L.P., (iii) ValueAct Capital Management, LLC as General Partner of ValueAct Capital Management, L.P., (iv) ValueAct Holdings, L.P. as the sole owner of the limited partnership interests of ValueAct Capital Management, L.P. and the membership interests of ValueAct Capital Management, LLC and as the majority owner of the membership interests of VA Partners III, LLC and (v) ValueAct Holdings GP, LLC as General Partner of ValueAct Holdings, L.P.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">These Restricted Stock Units released on June 5, 2008.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">Column 8 is not a required reportable field.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks>Joint Filer Information:

Name: ValueAct Capital Master Fund, L.P.
Address: 435 Pacific Avenue, 4th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94133
Designated Filer: ValueAct Holdings, L.P.
Issuer and Ticker: Gartner, Inc. (IT)
Date of Event Requiring Statement: 6/05/08

Name: ValueAct Capital Master Fund III, L.P.
Address: 435 Pacific Avenue, 4th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94133
Designated Filer: ValueAct Holdings, L.P.
Issuer and Ticker: Gartner, Inc. (IT)
Date of Event Requiring Statement: 6/05/08

Name: VA Partners I, LLC
Address: 435 Pacific Avenue, 4th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94133
Designated Filer: ValueAct Holdings, L.P.
Issuer and Ticker: Gartner, Inc. (IT)
Date of Event Requiring Statement: 6/05/08

Name: VA Partners III, LLC
Address: 435 Pacific Avenue, 4th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94133
Designated Filer: ValueAct Holdings, L.P.
Issuer and Ticker: Gartner, Inc. (IT)
Date of Event Requiring Statement: 6/05/08

Name: ValueAct Capital Management, L.P.
Address: 435 Pacific Avenue, 4th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94133
Designated Filer: ValueAct Holdings, L.P.
Issuer and Ticker: Gartner, Inc. (IT)
Date of Event Requiring Statement: 6/05/08

Name: ValueAct Capital Management, LLC
Address: 435 Pacific Avenue, 4th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94133
Designated Filer: ValueAct Holdings, L.P.
Issuer and Ticker: Gartner, Inc. (IT)
Date of Event Requiring Statement: 6/05/08

Name: ValueAct Holdings GP, LLC
Address: 435 Pacific Avenue, 4th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94133
Designated Filer: ValueAct Holdings, L.P.
Issuer and Ticker: Gartner, Inc. (IT)
Date of Event Requiring Statement: 6/05/08</remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>VALUEACT HOLDINGS, L.P., By:  VALUEACT HOLDINGS GP, LLC, its General Partner, By:/s/ George F. Hamel. Jr., Chief Operating Officer</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-06-09</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>VALUEACT CAPITAL MASTER FUND, L.P., By:  VA PARTNERS I, LLC, its General Partner, By:/s/ George F. Hamel. Jr., Chief Operating Officer</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-06-09</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>VALUEACT CAPITAL MASTER FUND III, L.P., By:  VA PARTNERS III, LLC, its General Partner, By:/s/ George F. Hamel. Jr., Chief Operating Officer</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-06-09</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>VA PARTNERS I, LLC, By:/s/ George F. Hamel. Jr., Chief Operating Officer</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-06-09</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>VA PARTNERS III, LLC, By:/s/ George F. Hamel. Jr., Chief Operating Officer</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-06-09</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>VALUEACT CAPITAL  MANAGEMENT, L.P., By:  VALUEACT CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, LLC, its General Partner, By:/s/ George F. Hamel. Jr., Chief Operating Officer</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-06-09</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>VALUEACT CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, LLC, By:/s/ George F. Hamel. Jr., Chief Operating Officer</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-06-09</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>VALUEACT HOLDINGS GP, LLC, By:/s/ George F. Hamel. Jr., Chief Operating Officer</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-06-09</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
