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

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2016-05-13</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>1</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000215419</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>CHECKPOINT SYSTEMS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>CKP</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001610049</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Sydon Uwe</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>101 WOLF DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>THOROFARE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NJ</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>08086</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>VP Innovation</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2016-05-13</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>D</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>37628</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Performance Rights</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2016-05-13</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>D</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>16000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>16000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Pursuant to that certain Agreement and Plan of Merger dated March 1, 2016 (the &quot;Merger Agreement&quot;) by and among the Issuer, CCL Industries Inc. (&quot;CCL&quot;) and a wholly-owned subsidiary of CCL, the Issuer became an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of CCL upon consummation of the merger (the &quot;Effective Time&quot;).  The aggregate holdings of 37,628 shares of common stock were disposed at the Effective Time for the following merger consideration: (a)  2,207 shares of common stock.  At the Effective Time, each such share of common stock was disposed of in exchange for $10.15 (or the &quot;Merger Consideration&quot;) in cash. (b)  26,293 shares of unvested restricted stock units (&quot;RSUs&quot;).  At the Effective Time, each RSU (whether vested or unvested) was canceled in exchange for a cash amount equal to the product of (x) $10.15 and (y) the number of shares covered by such RSU, subject to all applicable withholding taxes.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">(Continued from footnote 1) (c)  9,128 shares of common stock acquired under various deferred compensation plans. It is comprised of both shares of common stock and shares of common stock accrued pursuant to a matching provision under such plan.  At the Effective Time, each deferred share was converted into a cash balance amount determined by multiplying the number of deferred shares outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time by $10.15, rounded up to the nearest whole cent.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Represents performance-based restricted stock units (&quot;PSUs&quot;) previously reported on Form 4 filed on March 2, 2016.  Pursuant to the provisions of the Merger Agreement, at the Effective Time, each outstanding PSU, was deemed earned at the target level and was cancelled in exchange for a cash amount equal to the product of (x) $10.15 and (y) the target number of shares of common stock subject to the applicable award of PSUs, subject to all applicable withholding taxes.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks>Exhibit List:  Exhibit 24 - Power of Attorney</remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Bryan Rowland, attorney-in-fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2016-05-13</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
