-----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,
 H/78kiJ5Z86oMVZvAmWrX03yA7JCTU5tABOqaKx6p9Wd3+aTY6aYbBu668ugdj9z
 0MF2cMjRplWYTzeUanzENA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001140361-09-020351.txt : 20090908
<SEC-HEADER>0001140361-09-020351.hdr.sgml : 20090907
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20090908141646
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001140361-09-020351
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20090908
FILED AS OF DATE:		20090908
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20090908

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			EISENMAN JACK
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001182892

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-14565
		FILM NUMBER:		091057763

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		P O BOX 4300 NEW GETWELL
		CITY:			MEMPHIS
		STATE:			TN
		ZIP:			38118

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			FREDS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000724571
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	RETAIL-VARIETY STORES [5331]
		IRS NUMBER:				620634010
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			TN
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0131

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		4300 NEW GETWELL RD
		CITY:			MEMPHIS
		STATE:			TN
		ZIP:			38118
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9013658880

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		4300 NEW GETWELL ROAD
		CITY:			MEMPHIS
		STATE:			TN
		ZIP:			38118

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	BADDOUR INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19910620
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>doc1.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2009-09-08</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000724571</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>FREDS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>FRED</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001182892</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>EISENMAN JACK</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>4300 NEW GETWELL ROAD</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>MEMPHIS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>TN</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>38118</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable></nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Option on Class A Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>14.60</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-09-08</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>3000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>14.60</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2004-09-08</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2009-09-08</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Class A Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>3000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>3000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Expiration of unexercised options.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Anita Ryan by power of attorney</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2009-09-08</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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