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

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2009-10-07</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000005133</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>AMERICAN GREETINGS CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>AM</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001223163</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>WEISS ZEV</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>ONE AMERICAN ROAD</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>CLEVELAND</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>OH</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>44144</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Chief Executive Officer</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class A Common Shares</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-10-07</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate>
                <value>2009-10-08</value>
            </deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>I</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>18507</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>22.5338</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Profit Shar. Plan</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The price reported in Column 4 is a weighted average price.  The shares were held for the benefit of the reporting person in the American Greetings Corporation Retirement Profit Sharing and Savings Plan (the &quot;Plan&quot;).  The weighted average price credited to the reporting person's account was based on shares sold by the Plan's trustee for the benefit of certain Plan participants, including the reporting person, in multiple transactions at prices ranging from $22.44 to $22.68, inclusive.  The reporting person undertakes to provide to American Greetings Corporation, any security holder thereof, or the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission, upon request, full information regarding the number of shares sold at each separate price within the ranges set forth in footnote (1) of this form.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Catherine M. Kilbane, Power of Attorney for Zev Weiss</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2009-10-09</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
