<?xml version="1.0"?><ownershipDocument><schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-09-22</periodOfReport><notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16><issuer><issuerCik>0000354950</issuerCik><issuerName>HOME DEPOT INC</issuerName>        <issuerTradingSymbol>hd</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId><rptOwnerCik>0000942439</rptOwnerCik><rptOwnerName>PENSKE ROGER S</rptOwnerName></reportingOwnerId><reportingOwnerAddress><rptOwnerStreet1>2555 TELEGRAPH ROAD</rptOwnerStreet1><rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2><rptOwnerCity>BLOOMFIELD HILLS</rptOwnerCity><rptOwnerState>MI</rptOwnerState><rptOwnerZipCode>48302-0954</rptOwnerZipCode><rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription></reportingOwnerAddress><reportingOwnerRelationship><isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><derivativeTable><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Deferred Stock Units</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><footnoteId id="F1" /></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-09-18</value></transactionDate><deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>5</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved><footnoteId id="F2" /></transactionCoding><transactionTimeliness><value>E</value></transactionTimeliness><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>7.275</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>0</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><footnoteId id="F3" /></exerciseDate><expirationDate><footnoteId id="F3" /></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>7.275</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>3455.6254</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Deferred Stock Units</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><footnoteId id="F1" /></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-09-22</value></transactionDate><deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionTimeliness><value></value></transactionTimeliness><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>61.0874</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>32.74</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><footnoteId id="F3" /></exerciseDate><expirationDate><footnoteId id="F3" /></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>61.0874</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>3516.7128</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Deferred Stock Rights</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><footnoteId id="F4" /></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-09-18</value></transactionDate><deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>5</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved><footnoteId id="F2" /></transactionCoding><transactionTimeliness><value>E</value></transactionTimeliness><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>6.4318</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>0</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><footnoteId id="F5" /></exerciseDate><expirationDate><footnoteId id="F5" /></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>6.4318</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>3055.1041</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">The Deferred Stock Units convert to shares of Common Stock on a one-for-one basis following a termination of service as described in the Nonemployee Director Deferred Stock Compensation Plan.</footnote><footnote id="F2">Acquired pursuant to quarterly dividend.</footnote><footnote id="F3">The Deferred Stock Units accrued under The Nonemployee Director Deferred Stock Compensation Plan and are to be settled in Common Stock following a termination of service as described in the plan.</footnote><footnote id="F4">The Deferred Stock Rights convert to shares of Common Stock on a one-for-one basis upon the earlier of (i) the first anniversary of the director's termination of service as a Board member, (ii) the date of the director's death, retirement or disability, or (iii) the date of a change in control of the Company.</footnote><footnote id="F5">The Deferred Stock Rights were granted under the 1997 Omnibus Stock Incentive Plan and are to be settled in Common Stock upon the earlier of (i) the first anniversary of the director's termination of service as a Board member, (ii) the date of the director's death, retirement or disability, or (iii) the date of a change in control of the Company.</footnote></footnotes><remarks></remarks><ownerSignature><signatureName>/s/ Jocelyn J. Hunter, Attorney-in-Fact</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-09-23</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

