<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-06-17</periodOfReport>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000104599</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>CIRCUIT CITY STORES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>cc</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001209877</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>BOWMAN DENNIS J</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>0</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>Senior Vice President</officerTitle></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Circuit City Stores Inc. Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-06-17</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved><footnoteId id="F1"/></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>45000</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>0</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>65498</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeSecurity><derivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Options</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>7.395</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-06-17</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>75000</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>7.395</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>2006-02-28</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2013-06-17</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>75000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>475474</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeSecurity><footnotes><footnote id="F1">The actual number of shares earned will be based on Circuit City's fiscal year 2006 operating profit margin versus peers.  If Circuit City's fical year 2006 operating profit margin performance is below 4% it is at the Committee's discretion for the vesting of shares, at 4% equals 100% vested, at 4.5% equals 125% vested, at 5% equals 150% vested, at 5.5% equals 175% vested and 6% equals 200% vested.</footnote></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>Susan Wilburn Attorney in Fact</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-06-19</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>
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X0101
4
2003-06-17
0000104599
CIRCUIT CITY STORES INC
cc
0001209877
BOWMAN DENNIS J
0
1
0
0
Senior Vice President
Circuit City Stores Inc. Common Stock
2003-06-17
4
A
0
45000
0
A
65498
D
Options
7.395
2003-06-17
4
A
0
75000
7.395
A
2006-02-28
2013-06-17
Common Stock
75000
475474
D
The actual number of shares earned will be based on Circuit City's fiscal year 2006 operating profit margin versus peers.  If Circuit City's fical year 2006 operating profit margin performance is below 4% it is at the Committee's discretion for the vesting of shares, at 4% equals 100% vested, at 4.5% equals 125% vested, at 5% equals 150% vested, at 5.5% equals 175% vested and 6% equals 200% vested.
Susan Wilburn Attorney in Fact
2003-06-19