<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0001209191-14-037523
<TYPE>4
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>1
<PERIOD>20140523
<FILING-DATE>20140528
<DATE-OF-FILING-DATE-CHANGE>20140528
<ISSUER>
<COMPANY-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>BLUE NILE INC
<CIK>0001091171
<ASSIGNED-SIC>5944
<IRS-NUMBER>911963165
<STATE-OF-INCORPORATION>DE
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>0101
</COMPANY-DATA>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>411 FIRST AVE S
<STREET2>STE 700
<CITY>SEATTLE
<STATE>WA
<ZIP>98104
<PHONE>2063366700
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>411 FIRST AVE S
<STREET2>STE 700
<CITY>SEATTLE
<STATE>WA
<ZIP>98104
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
<FORMER-COMPANY>
<FORMER-CONFORMED-NAME>INTERNET DIAMONDS INC
<DATE-CHANGED>20000131
</FORMER-COMPANY>
</ISSUER>
<REPORTING-OWNER>
<OWNER-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>POTTER MICHAEL J
<CIK>0001191211
</OWNER-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>4
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>000-50763
<FILM-NUMBER>14874149
</FILING-VALUES>
</REPORTING-OWNER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>doc4.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4 SUBMISSION
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2014-05-23</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001091171</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>BLUE NILE INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>NILE</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001191211</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>POTTER MICHAEL J</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O BLUE NILE, INC</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>411 FIRST AVENUE S, STE 700</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SEATTLE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>WA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>98104</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>2014-05-23</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2729</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0.00</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>9501</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Represents shares of common stock issuable upon vesting of a restricted stock unit. Each restricted stock unit represents a contingent right to receive one share of common stock following each vesting date. One fourth of the restricted stock units vests every three months from May 23, 2014 for one year.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Jesse Timmermans, Power of Attorney</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2014-05-28</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SUBMISSION>
