<?xml version="1.0"?><ownershipDocument><schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-08-22</periodOfReport><notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16><issuer><issuerCik>0000929008</issuerCik><issuerName>WESCO INTERNATIONAL INC</issuerName>        <issuerTradingSymbol>WCC</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId><rptOwnerCik>0001208268</rptOwnerCik><rptOwnerName>BRAILER DANIEL A</rptOwnerName></reportingOwnerId><reportingOwnerAddress><rptOwnerStreet1>225 WEST STATION SQUARE DRIVE, SUITE 700</rptOwnerStreet1><rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2><rptOwnerCity>PITTSBURGH</rptOwnerCity><rptOwnerState>PA</rptOwnerState><rptOwnerZipCode>15219</rptOwnerZipCode><rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription></reportingOwnerAddress><reportingOwnerRelationship><isDirector>0</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>TREASURER/ CORPORATE SECRETARY</officerTitle></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>WESCO International Common Stock</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>9175</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding></nonDerivativeTable><derivativeTable><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Option for WESCO International Common Stock</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>18</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><footnoteId id="F1" /></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2009-05-11</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>WESCO International Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>9175</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>9175</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Option for WESCO International Common Stock</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>9.875</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><footnoteId id="F2" /></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2010-05-11</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>WESCO International Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>7500</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>16675</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Option for WESCO International Common Stock</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>4.5</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><footnoteId id="F2" /></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2011-12-21</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>WESCO International Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>10000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>26675</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Option for WESCO International Common Stock</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>7.08</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><footnoteId id="F2" /></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2012-05-01</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>WESCO International Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>10000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>36675</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Option for WESCO International Common Stock</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>5.9</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-08-22</value></transactionDate><deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionTimeliness><value></value></transactionTimeliness><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>22500</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>5.9</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><footnoteId id="F3" /></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2013-08-22</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>WESCO International Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>22500</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>59175</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Half of the options granted vested over a four-year time period beginning with the grant date, with the remaining half being subject to accellerated vesting based on performance.  Any options not yet vested become vested 90 days prior to the expiration date of the options.</footnote><footnote id="F2">Options are subject to performance vesting, with any unvested options becoming vested 90 days prior to the expiration date of such options.</footnote><footnote id="F3">Options vest at a rate of 1/3 per year on the anniversary date of the option grant over the next three years.</footnote></footnotes><remarks></remarks><ownerSignature><signatureName>/s/ Daniel A. Brailer</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-08-26</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

