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

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2005-03-15</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001185928</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>SWEENY JACK C</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>Group VP, Forest Products</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>30905</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>5401</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Trustee, 401(k) plan</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>56.06</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>1999-02-07</value>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2007-02-07</value>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>7140</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>7140</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>55.50</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2000-02-06</value>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2008-02-06</value>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>10000</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>10000</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>59.25</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2001-02-05</value>
                <footnoteId id="F5"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2009-02-05</value>
                <footnoteId id="F5"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>12500</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F5"/>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>12500</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>55.28</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2002-02-04</value>
                <footnoteId id="F6"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2010-02-04</value>
                <footnoteId id="F6"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>18000</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F6"/>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>18000</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>51.30</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2002-02-02</value>
                <footnoteId id="F7"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2011-02-02</value>
                <footnoteId id="F7"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>15000</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F7"/>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>15000</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>55.32</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2003-02-01</value>
                <footnoteId id="F8"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2012-02-01</value>
                <footnoteId id="F8"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>20000</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F8"/>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>20000</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>43.01</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2004-02-07</value>
                <footnoteId id="F9"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2013-02-07</value>
                <footnoteId id="F9"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>10000</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F9"/>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>10000</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F9"/>
                </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="F10"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2014-02-06</value>
                <footnoteId id="F10"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>9000</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F10"/>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>9000</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F10"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Phantom Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>83.16</value>
                <footnoteId id="F11"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-03-15</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate>
                <value>2005-03-15</value>
            </deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0.00</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F11"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F11"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>8346</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F11"/>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>8346</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F11"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>74.13</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2006-02-04</value>
                <footnoteId id="F12"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2015-02-04</value>
                <footnoteId id="F12"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>12000</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F12"/>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>12000</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F12"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
    </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">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 January 31, 2005.  (Note:  Trustee uses unit accounting; therefore, share equivalents may fluctuate slightly from month to month.)</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Options Vesting Schedule:  Options Exercisable 02/07/1999 - 1,071; Options Exercisable 02/07/2000 - 1,071; Options Exercisable 02/07/2001 - 1,071; Options Exercisable 02/07/2002 - 1,071; Options Exercisable 02/07/2003 - 2,856.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">Options Vesting Schedule:  Options Exercisable 02/06/2000 - 1,500; Options Exercisable 02/06/2001 - 1,500; Options Exercisable 02/06/2002 - 1,500; Options Exercisable 02/06/2003 - 1,500; Options Exercisable 02/06/2004 - 4,000.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">Options Vesting Schedule:  Options Exercisable 02/05/2001 - 1,875; Options Exercisable 02/05/2002 - 1,875; Options Exercisable 02/05/2003 - 1,875; Options Exercisable 02/05/2004 - 1,875; Options Exercisable 02/05/2005 - 5,000.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F6">Options Vesting Schedule:  Options Exercisable 02/04/2002 - 2,700; Options Exercisable 02/04/2003 - 2,700; Options Exercisable 02/04/2004 - 2,700; Options Exercisable 02/04/2005 - 2,700; Options Exercisable 02/04/2006 - 7,200.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F7">Options Vesting Schedule:  Options Exercisable 02/02/2002 - 3,750; Options Exercisable 02/02/2003 - 3,750; Options Exercisable 02/02/2004 - 3,750; Options Exercisable 02/02/2005 - 3,750.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F8">Options Vesting Schedule:  Options Exercisable 02/01/2003 - 5,000; Options Exercisable 02/01/2004 - 5,000; Options Exercisable 02/01/2005 - 5,000; Options Exercisable 02/01/2006 - 5,000.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F9">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="F10">Options Vesting Schedule:  Options exercisable 02/06/2005 - 2,250; Options Exercisable 02/06/2006 - 2,250; Options Exercisable 02/06/2007 - 2,250; Options Exercisable 02/06/2008 - 2,250.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F11">Phantom shares accrued under a Company plan, which includes a dividend reinvestment feature, to be settled upon Reporting Person's retirement.

02/06/2004 - 4,000 restricted stock units vest 100% at the end of 3 years if still employed.

02/06/2004 - 4,000 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="F12">Option Vesting Schedule: Options exercisable 02/04/2006 - 3,000; Options exercisable 02/04/2007 - 3,000; Options exercisable 02/04/2008 - 3,000; Options exercisable 02/04/2009 - 3,000.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Leslie K. O'Neal Signed on Behalf of Jack C. Sweeny</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-03-16</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
