<?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>0001391514</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Super MergerSub Inc.</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O CENTRO PROPERTIES LIMITED, CORPORATE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>OFFICES, 3RD FLOOR, 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>6879036</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>33.15</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>91202530</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Represents additional shares of Common Stock tendered on or after April 13, 2007, the filing date of the reporting person's Form 3, and prior to the expiration of, and acquired by the reporting person pursuant to, the reporting person?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, the reporting person and Super DownREIT MergerSub LLC.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The number of shares of Common Stock reported hereon do not include any shares of Common Stock which the reporting person 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 all of the shares of Common Stock acquired by the reporting person pursuant to the Offer.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

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