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

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2014-03-07</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000899723</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>OM GROUP INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>OMG</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001504552</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Johnson Michael V.</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>FLATS EAST BANK BUILDING</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>950 MAIN AVENUE, SUITE 1300</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>CLEVELAND</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>OH</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>44113</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Vice President - HR</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

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            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
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            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate>
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                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
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            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
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                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>29.78</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>37153</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
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            <transactionTimeliness>
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            <transactionAmounts>
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                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
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                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
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                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
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    <derivativeTable>
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            <transactionAmounts>
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                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0.00</value>
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            <expirationDate>
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                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
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                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
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                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
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                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
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        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
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            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
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            <transactionDate>
                <value>2014-06-06</value>
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            <deemedExecutionDate>
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                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
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            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>8</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0.00</value>
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                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
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            <exerciseDate>
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            <expirationDate>
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                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
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            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
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                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
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        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Dividend Equivalent Rights</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
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            <transactionDate>
                <value>2014-09-05</value>
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            <deemedExecutionDate>
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            </deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
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                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>9</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0.00</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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            <exerciseDate>
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            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
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                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>9</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>24</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Dividend Equivalent Rights</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2014-12-05</value>
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            <deemedExecutionDate>
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            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
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                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
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            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>9</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0.00</value>
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            <expirationDate>
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                <underlyingSecurityShares>
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            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
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        </derivativeTransaction>
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            <securityTitle>
                <value>Dividend Equivalent Rights</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
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            <transactionDate>
                <value>2015-02-14</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>X</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
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            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
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            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>33</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
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            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
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            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>33</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">This field is not applicable.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">This reflects the surrender of shares to OM Group, Inc. to pay taxes applicable to the vesting of restricted stock units in accordance with the applicable long-term incentive plan previously approved by the stockholders of OM Group, Inc. and the related agreement previously approved by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors of OM Group, Inc.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Settlement of dividend equivalent rights in connection with the vesting of restricted stock units.  The rights accrued when and as dividends were paid on OM Group, Inc. Common Stock and vested with the restricted stock units to which they are related.  Each dividend equivalent right is the economic equivalent of one share of OM Group Common Stock.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">The dividend equivalent rights accrued on restricted stock units and vest proportionately with the restricted stock units to which they relate.  Each dividend equivalent right is the economic equivalent of one share of OM Group, Inc. Common Stock.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Michael V. Johnson, by Cipriano S. Beredo as attorney-in-fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2015-02-18</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
