<?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>0001209885</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>MAQUIRE KIM D</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>Executive 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>95000</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>0</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>131103</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><footnoteId id="F2"/><footnoteId id="F3"/></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>155000</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>155000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>454980</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><footnote id="F2">Effective October 1,2002, in connection with the redemption and cancellation of all of the outstanding shares of Circuit City Stores, Inc. - Carmax Group Common Stock and the separation of Carmax, Inc. from Circuit City Stores, Inc., the Circuit City Stores, Inc.-Circuit City Group common Stock was redesignated &amp;quot;Common Stock&amp;quot; of Circuit City Stores, Inc.</footnote><footnote id="F3">Effective October 1, 2002, in connection with the separation of Carmax Inc. from Circuit City Stores, Inc., the exercise price, number of options and number of shares underlying the options were adjusted pursuant to the anti-dilution provisions set forth in the option plan in order to maintain the pre-separation intrinsic economic value of the options.</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
0001209885
MAQUIRE KIM D
0
1
0
0
Executive Vice President
Circuit City Stores Inc. Common Stock
2003-06-17
4
A
0
95000
0
A
131103
D
Options
7.395
2003-06-17
4
A
0
155000
7.395
A
2006-02-28
2013-06-17
Common Stock
155000
454980
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.
Effective October 1,2002, in connection with the redemption and cancellation of all of the outstanding shares of Circuit City Stores, Inc. - Carmax Group Common Stock and the separation of Carmax, Inc. from Circuit City Stores, Inc., the Circuit City Stores, Inc.-Circuit City Group common Stock was redesignated &quot;Common Stock&quot; of Circuit City Stores, Inc.
Effective October 1, 2002, in connection with the separation of Carmax Inc. from Circuit City Stores, Inc., the exercise price, number of options and number of shares underlying the options were adjusted pursuant to the anti-dilution provisions set forth in the option plan in order to maintain the pre-separation intrinsic economic value of the options.
Susan Wilburn Attorney in Fact
2003-06-19