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

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2017-05-02</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000021535</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>COHU INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>COHU</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001701398</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>BOHRSON CHRISTOPHER</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>12367 CROSTHWAITE CIRCLE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>POWAY</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode></rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>VP &amp; General Manager, Delta</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock (ESPP)</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2017-05-02</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1221</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>9.45</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>27975</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">These shares were acquired under the Cohu, Inc. 1997 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the Plan), for the purchase period of November 1, 2016 through April 30, 2017. This transaction is exempt pursuant to Rule 16-b3(c).</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The Offering Period (as defined in the Plan) ended April 30, 2017, and the shares were acquired on May 2, 2017.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">In accordance with the Plan, these shares were purchased at a price not less than eighty-five percent (85%) of the lesser of (a) the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on the Offering Date of the Offering Period, or (b) the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on the Purchase Date of the Offering Period (as defined in the Plan) as of April 28, 2017, the last trading day prior to the end of the Offering Period.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">Number of shares includes 26,754 Restricted Stock Units (RSU) (excluding the impact of shares that will be withheld to cover tax obligations) previously reported that in the future will be converted on a one-for-one basis into shares of Cohu, Inc. Common Stock, immediately upon vesting which vesting is scheduled to occur in annual installments (assuming continued employment and achievement of specified performance goals).</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Jeffrey D. Jones (Attorney-in-Fact)</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2017-05-04</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
