<?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>0001205211</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>WOO CAROLYN Y</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><derivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Restricted Stock Units</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>0</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-06-17</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>5</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>8114</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>0</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>2004-06-17</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2006-06-13</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>8114</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>8114</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeSecurity><footnotes><footnote id="F1">1 for 1</footnote><footnote id="F2">Thirty-three and one third percent (33 1/3%) of the restricted stock units shall vest on each of the first, second, and third anniversaries of June 17, 2003.  These shares cannot be sold while serving as Board of Director for Circuit City Stores Inc.</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
0001205211
WOO CAROLYN Y
1
0
0
0
Restricted Stock Units
0
2003-06-17
5
A
0
8114
0
A
2004-06-17
2006-06-13
Common Stock
8114
8114
D
1 for 1
Thirty-three and one third percent (33 1/3%) of the restricted stock units shall vest on each of the first, second, and third anniversaries of June 17, 2003.  These shares cannot be sold while serving as Board of Director for Circuit City Stores Inc.
Susan Wilburn Attorney in Fact
2003-06-19