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

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2007-04-19</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000798288</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>NEW PLAN EXCEL REALTY TRUST INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>NXL</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001396346</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>CPT Manager LTD</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>3RD FLOOR, THE GLEN SHOPPING CENTRE,</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>235 SPRINGVALE ROAD</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>GLEN WAVERLEY</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>C3</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>3150</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription>AUSTRALIA</rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, $.01 par value per share</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2007-04-19</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>3439518</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>33.15</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>45601265</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See Footnote</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Represents 50% of the additional shares of Common Stock tendered prior to the expiration of, and acquired by Super MergerSub Inc. (&quot;MergerSub&quot;) pursuant to, MergerSub?s previously announced tender offer for all of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (the &quot;Offer&quot;) pursuant to the Agreement and Plan of Merger dated February 27, 2007, as it may be amended or supplemented from time to time (the &quot;Merger Agreement&quot;), by and among the Issuer, Excel Realty Partners, L.P., Super IntermediateCo LLC, MergerSub and Super DownREIT MergerSub LLC.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The number of shares of Common Stock reported hereon does not include any shares of Common Stock which MergerSub currently intends to acquire from the Issuer pursuant to the exercise its Top-Up Option (as defined in the Merger Agreement).</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Represents 50% of all of the shares of Common Stock acquired by MergerSub pursuant to the Offer.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">These shares of Common Stock are directly owned by MergerSub. MergerSub is indirectly owned 50% by Centro Property Trust, for whom the reporting person is the responsible entity. As a result, the reporting person may be deemed to beneficially own 50% of the shares of Common Stock directly owned by MergerSub. MergerSub directly owns a total of approximately 91,202,530 shares of Common Stock.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Andrew Scott</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2007-04-19</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
