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

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-12-15</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000731939</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>TEMPLE INLAND INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>TIN</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001185911</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>JOHNSTON J BRADLEY</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1300 SOUTH MOPAC</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>AUSTIN</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>TX</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>78746</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>General Counsel</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>4154</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>900</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Trustee of 401(k) Plan</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>59.25</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2000-02-05</value>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2009-02-05</value>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>3000</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>3000</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>55.28</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2001-02-04</value>
                <footnoteId id="F5"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2010-02-04</value>
                <footnoteId id="F5"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>4000</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F5"/>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>4000</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F5"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>51.30</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2002-02-02</value>
                <footnoteId id="F6"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2011-02-02</value>
                <footnoteId id="F6"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>4000</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F6"/>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>4000</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F6"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>55.32</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2003-02-01</value>
                <footnoteId id="F7"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2012-02-01</value>
                <footnoteId id="F7"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>5000</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F7"/>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>5000</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F7"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>43.01</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2004-02-07</value>
                <footnoteId id="F8"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2013-02-07</value>
                <footnoteId id="F8"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>10000</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F8"/>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>10000</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F8"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>60.03</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2005-02-06</value>
                <footnoteId id="F9"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2014-02-06</value>
                <footnoteId id="F9"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>8000</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F9"/>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>8000</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F9"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Phantom Shares</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>62.16</value>
                <footnoteId id="F10"/>
                <footnoteId id="F11"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-12-15</value>
                <footnoteId id="F10"/>
                <footnoteId id="F11"/>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate>
                <value>2004-12-15</value>
                <footnoteId id="F10"/>
                <footnoteId id="F11"/>
            </deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>5</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F11"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0.00</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F10"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F10"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>6227</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F10"/>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>6227</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F10"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">In accordance with the Shareholder Rights Plan adopted by the Company on February 9, 1999, Preferred Stock Purchase Rights are deemed to be attached to the shares of Common Stock.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Additional shares also accrued through a DRIP.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Reporting Person acquired additional shares through on-going acquisitions under 401(k) plan.  By trustee of the Temple-Inland Salaried Savings Plan according to the latest report of the Plan Administrator dated November 30, 2004.  (Note:  Trustee uses unit accounting; therefore, share equivalents may fluctuate slightly from month to month.)</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">Options Vesting Schedule:  Options Exercisable 02/05/2000 - 600; Options Exercisable 02/05/2001 - 600; Options Exercisable 02/05/2002 - 600; Options Exercisable 02/05/2003 - 600; Options Exercisable 02/05/2004 - 600.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">Options Vesting Schedule:  Options Exercisable 02/04/2001 - 800; Options Exercisable 02/04/2002 - 800; Options Exercisable 02/04/2003 - 800; Options Exercisable 02/04/2004 - 800; Options Exercisable 02/04/2005 - 800.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F6">Options Vesting Schedule:  Options Exercisable 02/02/2002 - 1,000; Options Exercisable 02/02/2003 - 1,000; Options Exercisable 02/02/2004 - 1,000; Options Exercisable 02/02/2005 - 1,000.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F7">Options Vesting Schedule:  Options Exercisable 02/01/2003 - 1,250; Options Exercisable 02/01/2004 - 1,250; Options Exercisable 02/01/2005 - 1,250; Options Exercisable 02/01/2006 - 1,250.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F8">Options Vesting Schedule:  Options Exercisable 02/07/2004 - 2,500; Options Exercisable 02/07/2005 - 2,500; Options Exercisable 02/07/2006 - 2,500; Options Exercisable 02/07/2007 - 2,500.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F9">Options Vesting Schedule:  Options exercisable 02/06/2005 - 2,000; Options Exercisable 02/06/2006 - 2,000; Options Exercisable 02/06/2007 - 2,000; Options Exercisable 02/06/2008 - 2,000.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F10">Phantom shares accrued under a Company plan, which includes a dividend reinvestment feature, to be settled upon Reporting Person's retirement.

02/06/2004 - 3,000 restricted stock units vest 100% at the end of 3 years if still employed.

02/06/2004 - 3,000 restricted performance stock units vest 0%, 75%, or 100% at the end of 3 years depending on whether certain performance criteria are met.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F11">Temple-Inland maintains a DRIP that is available to all shareholders and in addition has a phantom stock program for executive employees under which dividends are reinvested on the same basis as the DRIP available to shareholders.  Shares are automatically withheld to pay taxes on the dividends and the disposition of shares withheld for tax purposes are herein reported.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Signed by Leslie K. O'Neal on behalf of J. Bradley Johnston</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-12-17</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

