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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 AsHn12Js6QL4/3rHuCoHHa8YYwy32Qm+mm+ezVB0+WQEsq/PoT2OG+XKzuzCDWo5
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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001209191-03-020681.txt : 20030909
<SEC-HEADER>0001209191-03-020681.hdr.sgml : 20030909
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030909110936
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001209191-03-020681
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030909
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030909

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			KEITHLEY INSTRUMENTS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000054991
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	INSTRUMENTS FOR MEAS & TESTING OF ELECTRICITY & ELEC SIGNALS [3825]
		IRS NUMBER:				340794417
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			OH
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0930

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		28775 AURORA RD
		CITY:			SOLON
		STATE:			OH
		ZIP:			44139
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2162480400

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BARTLETT JAMES T
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001082774

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-09965
		FILM NUMBER:		03887299

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O OGLEBAY NORTON CO
		STREET 2:		1100 SUPERIOR AVENUE
		CITY:			CLEVELAND
		STATE:			OH
		ZIP:			44114-2598
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2168613300

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O OGLEBAY NORTON CO
		STREET 2:		1100 SUPERIOR AVENUE
		CITY:			CLEVELAND
		STATE:			OH
		ZIP:			44114-2598
</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>2003-09-09</periodOfReport><notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16><issuer><issuerCik>0000054991</issuerCik><issuerName>KEITHLEY INSTRUMENTS INC</issuerName>        <issuerTradingSymbol>KEI</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId><rptOwnerCik>0001082774</rptOwnerCik><rptOwnerName>BARTLETT JAMES T</rptOwnerName></reportingOwnerId><reportingOwnerAddress><rptOwnerStreet1>KEITHLEY INSTRUMENTS, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1><rptOwnerStreet2>28775 AURORA ROAD</rptOwnerStreet2><rptOwnerCity>SOLON</rptOwnerCity><rptOwnerState>OH</rptOwnerState><rptOwnerZipCode>44139</rptOwnerZipCode><rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription></reportingOwnerAddress><reportingOwnerRelationship><isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><derivativeTable><derivativeHo
lding><securityTitle><value>Common Stock Option</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>17.7813</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2000-08-13</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2010-02-12</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stk</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>10000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>10000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Common Stock Option</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>36.85</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2001-08-18</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2011-02-17</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityT
itle><value>Common Stk</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>10000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>10000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Common Stock Option</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>19.23</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2002-08-17</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2012-02-16</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stk</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>10000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>10000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNatu
re><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Common Stock Option</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>10.7</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2003-08-16</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2013-02-15</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stk</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>10000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>10000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Phantom Stock Units</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>16.6375</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>
2003-09-08</value></transactionDate><deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionTimeliness><value></value></transactionTimeliness><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>225.66</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>0</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>2008-01-02</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><footnoteId id="F1" /></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stk</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>225.66</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>24640.78</value><footnoteId id="F2" /></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><owners
hipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">The phantom stock units were accrued under the Keithley Instruments, Inc. Deferred Stock Plan and are to be settled in common stock to the reporting person on the exercisable date or upon retirement from the board whichever occurs later.</footnote><footnote id="F2">Phantom shares were acquired on various dates (beginning 09/19/1995) with prices ranging from $2.469 to $64.00.</footnote></footnotes><remarks></remarks><ownerSignature><signatureName>Mark J. Plush, Attorney-in Fact</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-09-09</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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