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

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2009-08-11</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001428070</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Sloan Carolyn</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1300 SOUTH MOPAC</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>THIRD FLOOR</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>Vice President Internal Audit</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-08-11</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate>
                <value>2009-08-11</value>
            </deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1471</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>16.92</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1808</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-08-12</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate>
                <value>2009-08-12</value>
            </deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1808</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>16.70</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Options (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>11.96</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2005-02-06</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2014-02-06</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>1250</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1250</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Options (ight to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>16.14</value>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2006-02-04</value>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2015-02-04</value>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>2500</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2500</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Options (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>21.55</value>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2007-02-03</value>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2016-02-03</value>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>5125</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>5125</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Options (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>24.34</value>
                <footnoteId id="F5"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2008-02-02</value>
                <footnoteId id="F5"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2017-02-02</value>
                <footnoteId id="F5"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>5125</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>5125</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Options (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>19.50</value>
                <footnoteId id="F6"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2009-02-01</value>
                <footnoteId id="F6"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2018-02-01</value>
                <footnoteId id="F6"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>32199</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>32199</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Restricted Stock Units</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F7"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F7"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F7"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>8500</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>8500</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Restricted Stock Units</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F8"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F8"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F8"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>12051</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>12051</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Options (Right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>5.64</value>
                <footnoteId id="F9"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2010-02-06</value>
                <footnoteId id="F9"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2019-02-06</value>
                <footnoteId id="F9"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>36990</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>36990</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Performance Stock Units</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F10"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F10"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F10"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>38592</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>38592</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The price in Column 4 is a weighted average price. The prices actually paid ranged from $16.60 to $16.71. The reporting person will provide any security holder of the issuer, or the SEC staff, upon request, information regarding the number of shares purchased at each price within the range.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Option vesting schedule for options granted 02/06/04: 1250 on 02/06/05, 1250 on 02/06/06, 1250 on 02/06/07 and 1250 on 02/06/08.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Option Vesting Schedule for Options Granted 02/04/2005: Options exercisable 02/04/2006 - 1250; Options exercisable 02/04/2007 - 1250; Options exercisable 02/04/2008 - 1250; Options exercisable 02/04/2009 - 1250.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">Options Vesting Schedule for Options Granted 02/03/2006:  Options Exerciserable 02/03/2007 - 1281; Options Exerciserable 02/03/2008 - 1281; Options Exerciserable 02/03/2009 - 1281; and Options Exerciserable 02/03/2010 - 1282.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">Options Vesting Schedule for Options Granted 02/02/2007: Options Exerciserable 02/02/2008- 1281; Options Exerciserable 02/02/2009- 1281; Options Exerciserable 02/02/2010- 1281; and Options Exerciserable 02/02/200- 1282.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F6">Granted 02/01/2008 Option Vesting Schedule: Options exercisable 02/01/2009, 8049; Options exercisable 02/01/2010, 8050; Options exercisable 02/01/2011, 8050; Options exercisable 02/01/2012, 8050.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F7">Restricted Shares granted on August 9, 2007 that will vest effective February 2, 2010.  Restricted Shares will be settled for cash based on the fair market value on the vesting date subject to a 1% ROI performance criteria.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F8">Restricted Stock Units granted on February 1, 2008 will vest effective February 1, 2011 if 1% ROI performance criteria is met. Restricted Stock Units will be settled for cash based on the fair market value on the vesting date.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F9">Options Vesting Schedule for Options Granted 02/06/2009. Options Exerciserable 02/06/2010 - 9247; Options Exerciserable 02/06/2011 - 9248; Options Exerciserable 02/06/2012 - 9247; and Options Exerciserable 02/06/2013 - 9248.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F10">Performance Stock Units granted on February 6, 2009 will vest effective February 6, 2012 if 1% ROI performance criteria is met, or Company is above the 4th Quartile ROI ranking compared to its peer group. Performance Stock Units will be settled for cash based on the fair market value on the vesting date.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Signed by Leslie K. O'Neal on behalf of Carolyn Sloan</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2009-08-13</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
