<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2008-06-24</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000104599</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>CIRCUIT CITY STORES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>CC</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001206795</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>MARCUM JAMES</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>9950 MAYLAND DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>RICHMOND</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>VA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>23233</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Restricted Stock Award (2008 Award)</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-06-24</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>29851</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>29851</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>29851</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">This award represents non-employee director's equity-based compensation for the 2009 fiscal year and has a fair market value on the date of grant of $100,000.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">1 for 1</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">The restricted stock units shall vest one-hundred percent (100%) on June 24, 2009.  Shares of common stock issued following the vesting of the units cannot be sold while serving as a member of the Board of Directors for Circuit City Stores, Inc.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Megan A. Hargroves, Attorney-in-Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-06-26</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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X0303
4
2008-06-24
0000104599
CIRCUIT CITY STORES INC
CC
0001206795
MARCUM JAMES
9950 MAYLAND DRIVE
RICHMOND
VA
23233
1
0
0
0
Restricted Stock Award (2008 Award)
2008-06-24
4
A
0
29851
0
A
Common Stock
29851
29851
D
This award represents non-employee director's equity-based compensation for the 2009 fiscal year and has a fair market value on the date of grant of $100,000.
1 for 1
The restricted stock units shall vest one-hundred percent (100%) on June 24, 2009.  Shares of common stock issued following the vesting of the units cannot be sold while serving as a member of the Board of Directors for Circuit City Stores, Inc.
/s/ Megan A. Hargroves, Attorney-in-Fact
2008-06-26