<?xml version="1.0"?>

<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2003-09-09</periodOfReport>


    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000749251</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>GARTNER INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>IT</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001129787</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>VA PARTNERS LLC</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>ONE MARITIME PLAZA</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>STE 1400</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SAN FRANCISCO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>94111</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>

        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>NEW CL A Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2003-09-09</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>11800</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>11.3</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>8006400</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>see footnote</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>

        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>NEW CL A Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2003-09-10</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>33800</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>11.23</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>8040200</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>see footnote</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>

    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">As General Partner and Investment Manager of ValueAct Capital Partners, L.P., ValueAct Capital Partners II, L.P., and ValueAct Capital International, Ltd.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">These securities are also beneficially owned by Jeffrey W. Ubben, George F. Hamel, Jr., and Peter H. Kamin as Managing Members, Principal Owners and Controlling Persons of VA Partners, LLC.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks>Joint Filer Information

Name: ValueAct Capital Partners, L.P.
Address: One Maritime Plaza, Suite 1400, San Francisco, CA 94111
Designated Filer: VA Partners, L.L.C.
Issuer and Ticker Symbol: Gartner Group, Inc. (IT)
Date of Event Requiring Statement: September 9, 2003

Name: ValueAct Capital Partners II, L.P.
Address: One Maritime Plaza, Suite 1400, San Francisco, CA 94111
Designated Filer: VA Partners, L.L.C.
Issuer and Ticker Symbol: Gartner Group, Inc. (IT)
Date of Event Requiring Statement: September 9, 2003

Name: ValueAct Capital International, Ltd.
Address: One Maritime Plaza, Suite 1400, San Francisco, CA 94111
Designated Filer: VA Partners, L.L.C.
Issuer and Ticker Symbol: Gartner Group, Inc. (IT)
Date of Event Requiring Statement: September 9, 2003

Name: Jeffrey W. Ubben
Address: One Maritime Plaza, Suite 1400, San Francisco, CA 94111
Designated Filer: VA Partners, L.L.C.
Issuer and Ticker Symbol: Gartner Group, Inc. (IT)
Date of Event Requiring Statement: September 9, 2003

Name: George F. Hamel, Jr.
Address: One Maritime Plaza, Suite 1400, San Francisco, CA 94111
Designated Filer: VA Partners, L.L.C.
Issuer and Ticker Symbol: Gartner Group, Inc. (IT)
Date of Event Requiring Statement: September 9, 2003

Name: Peter H. Kamin
Address: One Maritime Plaza, Suite 1400, San Francisco, CA 94111
Designated Filer: VA Partners, L.L.C.
Issuer and Ticker Symbol: Gartner Group, Inc. (IT)
Date of Event Requiring Statement: September 9, 2003</remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>VALUEACT CAPITAL PARTNERS, L.P., BY VA PARTNERS, L.L.C., ITS GENERAL PARTNER By: /s/ George F. Hamel, Jr, Managing Member</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-09-11</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>VALUEACT CAPITAL PARTNERS II, L.P., BY VA PARTNERS, L.L.C., ITS GENERAL PARTNER By: /s/ George F. Hamel, Jr., Managing Member</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-09-11</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>VALUEACT CAPITAL INTERNATIONAL, LTD., BY VA PARTNERS, L.L.C., ITS INVESTMENT MANAGER By: /s/ George F. Hamel, Jr., Managing Member</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-09-11</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>VA PARTNERS, L.L.C. By: /s/ George F. Hamel, Jr., Managing Member</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-09-11</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>VA PARTNERS, L.L.C. By: /s/ Jeffrey W. Ubben, Managing Member</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-09-11</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>VA PARTNERS, L.L.C. By: /s/ Peter H. Kamin, Managing Member</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-09-11</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

