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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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 bdPaVBwVrUZLut1qO7PjMA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000950157-03-000657.txt : 20031211
<SEC-HEADER>0000950157-03-000657.hdr.sgml : 20031211
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20031211165811
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000950157-03-000657
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031209
FILED AS OF DATE:		20031211

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			THORNTON JERRY SUE
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001183301

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-13380
		FILM NUMBER:		031049963

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		CUYAHOGA COMMUNITY COLLEGE
		STREET 2:		700 CARNEZIE AVE.
		CITY:			CLEVELAND
		STATE:			OH
		ZIP:			44115

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			OFFICEMAX INC /OH/
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000929428
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	RETAIL-MISCELLANEOUS SHOPPING GOODS STORES [5940]
		IRS NUMBER:				341573735
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			OH
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0125

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		3605 WARRENSVILLE CENTER RD
		CITY:			SHAKER HEIGHTS
		STATE:			OH
		ZIP:			44122
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2169216900

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		3605 WARRENSVILLE CENTER RD
		CITY:			SHAKE HEIGHTS
		STATE:			OH
		ZIP:			44122
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>

<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2003-12-09</periodOfReport>


    <notSubjectToSection16>1</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000929428</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>OFFICEMAX INC /OH/</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>OMX</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001183301</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>THORNTON JERRY SUE</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O OFFICEMAX, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>3605 WARRENSVILLE CENTER ROAD</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SHAKER HEIGHTS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>OH</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>44122</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>

        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2003-12-09</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>D</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>28675</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>

    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>

        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Options (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>4.31</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2003-12-09</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>6250</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>5.25</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2003-12-09</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2000-08-10</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>6250</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>

    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Pursuant to the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of July 13, 2003, (the &quot;Merger Agreement&quot;), among Boise Cascade Corporation, a Delaware corporation (&quot;Boise&quot;), Challis Corporation, an Ohio corporation and a direct wholly owned subsidiary of Boise, and OfficeMax, Inc. (&quot;OfficeMax&quot;), shares of OfficeMax common stock have been exchanged pursuant to an exchange ratio.  The reporting person will receive cash, Boise common stock or a combination of the two valued pursuant to the Merger Agreement at $9.00 per OfficeMax share, subject to increase or decrease as described in the Merger Agreement.  The consideration received will depend on both the election of the reporting person and on elections made by other shareholders of OfficeMax.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, on December 9, 2003, options to purchase shares of OfficeMax common stock exercisable at prices above $9.00 were terminated and all options to purchase shares of OfficeMax common stock exercisable at prices below $9.00 were cancelled in exchange for a lump sum cash payment equal to the product of (i) the excess, if any, of $9.00 over the exercise price for that stock option, and (ii) the number of shares of OfficeMax common stock subject to the stock option.   In addition, holders of unvested options of OfficeMax common stock who agreed to permit OfficeMax to cancel unvested options will receive a lump sum cash payment equal to the product of (i) the excess, if any, of the closing share price for OfficeMax common stock on the date immediately prior to the date such OfficeMax common stock was cancelled over the exercise price for that unvested stock option and (ii) the number of shares of OfficeMax common stock subject to the unvested stock option.</
footnote>
    </footnotes>


    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Ross H. Pollock, Attorney-in-Fact for Jerry Thornton</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-12-10</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

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