-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 KImA7QXA+dAb140R5zKLWkkai42N+WCmVkgJrjYL7FZozbwQT1D7HLCy8YBElgI9
 8T9HCAaWvyGDhAZEy2sLQA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001209191-11-005356.txt : 20110127
<SEC-HEADER>0001209191-11-005356.hdr.sgml : 20110127
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20110127182423
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001209191-11-005356
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20110126
FILED AS OF DATE:		20110127
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20110127

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			WEISSMAN IRVING
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001230630

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-19871
		FILM NUMBER:		11553276

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			STEMCELLS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000883975
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	BIOLOGICAL PRODUCTS (NO DIAGNOSTIC SUBSTANCES) [2836]
		IRS NUMBER:				943078125
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		3155 PORTER DRIVE
		STREET 2:		.
		CITY:			PALO ALTO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94304
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6504753100

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		3155 PORTER DRIVE
		STREET 2:		.
		CITY:			PALO ALTO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94304

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	CYTOTHERAPEUTICS INC/DE
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19930328
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>doc4.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4 SUBMISSION
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2011-01-26</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000883975</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>STEMCELLS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>STEM</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001230630</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>WEISSMAN IRVING</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O STEMCELLS, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>3155 PORTER DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>PALO ALTO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>94304</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>2011-01-26</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>3519</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0.25</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>356400</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>190111</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>family trust</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The $0.25 per share price was the stock option exercise price for shares granted to Dr. Weissman on February 6, 2001, March 29, 2001 and March 31, 2001.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Includes (1) exercise of shares granted to Dr. Weissman on October 6, 2000, November 3, 2000, December 31, 2000 and January 2, 2001, and (2) anniversary equity grant of 10,000 restricted stock units, vesting 100% on October 1, 2011, the one year anniversary of the grant.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">105,079 shares held in trust as to which Dr. Weissman disclaims beneficial ownership.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Ken Stratton, attorney-in-fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2011-01-27</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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