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

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2015-04-02</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001589074</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Brokaw George R</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>410 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>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Alico, Inc., Common Stock, Par Value $1.00</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2015-04-02</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate>
                <value>2015-04-02</value>
            </deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>7728</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>50.913</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>186896</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Delta Offshore Master II, LTD</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Alico, Inc., Common Stock, Par Value $1.00</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2015-04-03</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate>
                <value>2015-04-03</value>
            </deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>584</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>51.33</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>111551</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <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="F3"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">On April 2, 2015, Delta Offshore Master II, LTD (the &quot;Fund&quot;) purchased 7,728 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">These shares were issued under the 2013 Incentive Equity Plan.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">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. Brokaw and Remy W. Trafelet are the members of 734 Agriculture, LLC.  Mr. Brokaw disclaims beneficial ownership of the Company's Common Stock held by 734 Investors, LLC except to the extent of his pecuniary interest therein.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>George R. Brokaw</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2015-04-06</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
