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

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2005-02-14</periodOfReport>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001298842</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Jonas Eric A Jr</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>9950 MAYLAND DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>RICHMOND</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>VA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>23233</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>SVP Human Resources</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Circuit City Stores Inc Common Stock(Restricted Stock Grant)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-02-14</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>15725</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>31769</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The actual number of shares earned under this restricted stock grant will be based on Circuit City's fiscal year 2006 operating profit margin.  If Circuit City's fiscal year 2006 operating profit margin performance is below 4%, it will be at the Committee's discretion whether shares will vest; at 4%, 100% will vest; at 4.5%, 125% will vest; at 5%, 150% will vest; at 5.5%, 175% will vest; and at 6%, 200% will vest.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">N/A (Restricted Stock Grant)</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Alice G. Givens, Attorney-in-fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-02-16</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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X0202
4
2005-02-14
0000104599
CIRCUIT CITY STORES INC
CC
0001298842
Jonas Eric A Jr
9950 MAYLAND DRIVE
RICHMOND
VA
23233
0
1
0
0
SVP Human Resources
Circuit City Stores Inc Common Stock(Restricted Stock Grant)
2005-02-14
4
A
0
15725
A
31769
D
The actual number of shares earned under this restricted stock grant will be based on Circuit City's fiscal year 2006 operating profit margin.  If Circuit City's fiscal year 2006 operating profit margin performance is below 4%, it will be at the Committee's discretion whether shares will vest; at 4%, 100% will vest; at 4.5%, 125% will vest; at 5%, 150% will vest; at 5.5%, 175% will vest; and at 6%, 200% will vest.
N/A (Restricted Stock Grant)
/s/ Alice G. Givens, Attorney-in-fact
2005-02-16