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

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-12-15</periodOfReport>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001310810</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Wick Randall W</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>Senior Vice President</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Circuit City Stores, Inc. Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-12-15</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>18450</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>18450</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Employee Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>14.86</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-12-15</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>25000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2014-12-15</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>25000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>25000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Employee stock option grant.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">N/A (Restricted Stock Grant)</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">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="F4">The options vest in three equal annual installements beginning on December 15, 2005.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Alice G. Givens, Attorney-in-Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-12-16</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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X0202
4
2004-12-15
0000104599
CIRCUIT CITY STORES INC
CC
0001310810
Wick Randall W
9950 MAYLAND DRIVE
RICHMOND
VA
23233
0
1
0
0
Senior Vice President
Circuit City Stores, Inc. Common Stock
2004-12-15
4
A
0
18450
A
18450
D
Employee Stock Option (Right to Buy)
14.86
2004-12-15
4
A
0
25000
A
2014-12-15
Common Stock
25000
25000
D
Employee stock option grant.
N/A (Restricted Stock Grant)
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.
The options vest in three equal annual installements beginning on December 15, 2005.
Alice G. Givens, Attorney-in-Fact
2004-12-16