-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 DdlH94IGuLHBwQMi5MLZD6rxe4b9ZSnmr9MdvUiD137juAxn8YWb+IrNPU+5jxdH
 qAwdOtEwYXCwMuWWbB9VLg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001209191-03-016634.txt : 20030812
<SEC-HEADER>0001209191-03-016634.hdr.sgml : 20030812
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030812142124
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001209191-03-016634
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030811
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030812

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:		03837072

	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>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-08-11</periodOfReport><notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <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>C/O UNITED STATIONERS</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>2200 E. GOLF RD.</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>DES PLAINES</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>IL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>60016</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><derivativeTable><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Non-Employee Director Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>38.11</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-08-11</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionTimeliness><value></value></transactionTimeliness><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>5500</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><footnoteId id="F2" /></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><footnoteId id="F1" /></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2013-08-11</value></expirationDate><underly
ingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>5500</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>5500</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Stock Options: Exercisable in three substantially equal annual installments, beginning on August 11, 2004</footnote><footnote id="F2">Stock Options granted pursuant to the Company's Management Equity Plan and an Individual Non-qualified Stock Option Agreement with respect to such reported options.</footnote></footnotes><remarks></remarks><ownerSignature><signatureName>/s/ Deidra D. Gold
Deidra D. Gold Attorney-in-Fact for Ilene S. Gordon</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-08-12</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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