<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-09-16</periodOfReport>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000104599</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>CIRCUIT CITY STORES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>cc</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001209887</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>SALOVAARA MIKAEL</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 Units</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>0</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-09-16</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>5</transactionFormType><transactionCode>J</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved><footnoteId id="F2"/></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>8114</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>0</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>2004-06-17</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2006-06-17</value></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/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">1 for 1</footnote><footnote id="F2">This Board of Director has chosen to defer payment under the Restricted Stock Unit Deferral Program (the  &quot;Program&quot;) of the restricted stock units issued on June 17, 2003 under the Circuit City Stores, Inc. 2000 Non-Employee Directors Stock Incentive Plan.  This is effective for restricted stock units that become vested in all future calendar years until a new Deferral Election is filed.</footnote></footnotes><remarks/><ownerSignature><signatureName>Susan Wilburn Attorney in Fact</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-09-16</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>
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X0201
4
2003-09-16
0000104599
CIRCUIT CITY STORES INC
cc
0001209887
SALOVAARA MIKAEL
9950 MAYLAND DRIVE
RICHMOND
VA
23233
1
0
0
0
Restricted Stock Units
0
2003-09-16
5
J
0
8114
0
D
2004-06-17
2006-06-17
Common Stock
8114
8114
D
1 for 1
This Board of Director has chosen to defer payment under the Restricted Stock Unit Deferral Program (the  "Program") of the restricted stock units issued on June 17, 2003 under the Circuit City Stores, Inc. 2000 Non-Employee Directors Stock Incentive Plan.  This is effective for restricted stock units that become vested in all future calendar years until a new Deferral Election is filed.
Susan Wilburn Attorney in Fact
2003-09-16