-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 UmBMrZ2G8QxZ7ylbb/H8EXZ3sjwg/X+EDHmYcj4CiHrZ/5LNzz1yVQm8pFr5963e
 9y8ychcJYggH50blY9veww==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001209191-03-009345.txt : 20030701
<SEC-HEADER>0001209191-03-009345.hdr.sgml : 20030701
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030701121240
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001209191-03-009345
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030630
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030701

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			UNITED STATIONERS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000355999
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	WHOLESALE-PAPER AND PAPER PRODUCTS [5110]
		IRS NUMBER:				363141189
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2200 E GOLF RD
		CITY:			DES PLAINES
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60016-1267
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8476995000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2200 E GOLF ROAD
		CITY:			DES PLAINES
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			600161267

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			GORDON ILENE S
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001049959

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-10653
		FILM NUMBER:		03767037

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O ARTHUR J. GALLAGHER & CO.
		STREET 2:		TWO PIERCE PLACE
		CITY:			ITASCA
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60143
		BUSINESS PHONE:		630-285-3564

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O ARTHUR J. GALLAGHER & CO.
		STREET 2:		TWO PIERCE PLACE
		CITY:			ITASCA
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60143
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>doc4.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4 SUBMISSION
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?><ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-06-30</periodOfReport>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000355999</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>UNITED STATIONERS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>USTR</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001049959</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>GORDON ILENE S</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle></officerTitle><otherText></otherText></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><derivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Phantom Stock Units</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>0</value><footnoteId id="F1" /></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-06-30</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionTimeliness><value></value></transactionTimeliness><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>313.983</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>35.83</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>1988-08-08</value><footnoteId id="F2" /></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>1988-08-08</v
alue><footnoteId id="F2" /></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityValue><value>313.983</value></underlyingSecurityValue></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>5147.249</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeSecurity><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Phantom Stock Unit Conversion: Upon exercise, the Phantom Stock Units are settled in the Company's common stock pursuant to a 1:1 conversion.</footnote><footnote id="F2">Phantom Stock Unit: The Phantom Stock Units were accrued under the United Stationers Inc. Non-Employee Directors' Deferred Stock Compensation Plan and generally are to be settled in common stock following the reporting person's termination of service as a Director of the Company.</footnote></footnotes><ownerSignature><si
gnatureName>/s/ Deidra D. Gold
Deidra D. Gold Attorney-in-fact for Ilene S. Gordon</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-07-01</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----