-----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,
 QPf+ErTu0crNJ8aQVJxqeo69wEmcO93kzed1uTapg/XWwdcYkOgldlAGXa0RYPwU
 8t7SD/XWvUDfhdUwfecG0A==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001140361-08-024413.txt : 20081105
<SEC-HEADER>0001140361-08-024413.hdr.sgml : 20081105
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20081105115010
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001140361-08-024413
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20081103
FILED AS OF DATE:		20081105
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20081105

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ABM INDUSTRIES INC /DE/
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000771497
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SERVICES-TO DWELLINGS & OTHER BUILDINGS [7340]
		IRS NUMBER:				941369354
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1031

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		551 FIFTH AVENUE
		STREET 2:		SUITE 300
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10176
		BUSINESS PHONE:		212 297-0200

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		551 FIFTH AVENUE
		STREET 2:		SUITE 300
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10176

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	ABM INDUSTRIES INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19950110

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	AMERICAN BUILDING MAINTENANCE INDUSTRIES INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19920703

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Yospe Joseph F
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001422174

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-08929
		FILM NUMBER:		081162883

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		212-297-9852

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		551 5TH AVENUE, SUITE 300
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10176
</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>2008-11-03</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000771497</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ABM INDUSTRIES INC /DE/</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>ABM</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001422174</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Yospe Joseph F</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>551 5TH AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 300</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10176</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Controller</officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-11-03</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>64</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>16.68</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>8754</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Dividend Equivalent Rights</value>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-11-03</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>55</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>55</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>55</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Dividend equivalent rights (DERs) accrued on the restricted stock units granted under the 2006 Equity Incentive Plan, which shall vest in the same manner as the restricted stock units to which they relate.  Each DER is the economic equivalent of one share of ABM common stock.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Includes 8,754 RSUs.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Dividend equivalent rights (DERs) accrued on the performance shares granted under the 2006 Equity Incentive Plan.  Each DER is the economic equivalent of one share of ABM common stock.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">DERs vest in the same manner as the performance shares to which they relate.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>By: Barbara L. Smithers, by power of attorney</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-11-05</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----