<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001209191-11-048307.txt : 20110919
<SEC-HEADER>0001209191-11-048307.hdr.sgml : 20110919
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20110919144718
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001209191-11-048307
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20110915
FILED AS OF DATE:		20110919
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20110919

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			CRAIG STEWART
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001282810

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-19871
		FILM NUMBER:		111097119

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1124 COLUMBIA
		STREET 2:		STE 130
		CITY:			SEATTLE
		STATE:			WA
		ZIP:			98103

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>X0304</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2011-09-15</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001282810</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>CRAIG STEWART</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O STEMCELLS, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>7707 GATEWAY BLVD., STE 140</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEWARK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>94560</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>SVP, Development &amp; Operations</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2011-09-15</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>856</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>2.46</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>25788</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2193</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By 401(k) Plan</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">This is recorded as a Code F disposition because the shares were used by the reporting person to pay a tax liability incurred by him from the delivery of shares incident to the vesting of restricted stock units.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Includes (1) 15,000 restricted stock units, with 5,000 vesting on each of June 1, 2012, June 1, 2013 and June 1, 2014, and (2) 4,666 restricted stock units, with 2,333 vesting on each of September 15, 2012 and September 15, 2013.  Amounts reflect automatic adjustments under applicable benefit plans triggered by issuer's 1 for 10 reverse stock split.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Shares held in 401(k) account in accordance with issuer's employer-match policies.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Ken Stratton, attorney-in-fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2011-09-19</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
