-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 EtQfS5XE8pAKXfs+u/hG4wAZ456kUEefOfmRmVSSPlNSzWa2cjS78PdUIdpwfdba
 sc/51EusmaTZ3HT/dzRfow==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000927796-04-000170.txt : 20040305
<SEC-HEADER>0000927796-04-000170.hdr.sgml : 20040305
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040305165039
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000927796-04-000170
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040304
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040305

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SILVA BRIAN D
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001199821

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-12381
		FILM NUMBER:		04652660

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O LINENS N THINGS
		STREET 2:		6 BRIGHTON ROAD
		CITY:			CLIFTON
		STATE:			NJ
		ZIP:			07015

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			LINENS N THINGS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001023052
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	RETAIL-HOME FURNITURE, FURNISHINGS & EQUIPMENT STORES [5700]
		IRS NUMBER:				223463939
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0101

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		6 BRIGHTON RD
		CITY:			CLIFTON
		STATE:			NJ
		ZIP:			07015
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9737781300

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		6 BRIGHTON RD
		CITY:			CLIFTON
		STATE:			NJ
		ZIP:			07015
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>silva4_ex.xml
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-03-04</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001023052</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>LINENS N THINGS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>LIN</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001199821</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>SILVA BRIAN D</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O LINENS 'N THINGS, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>6 BRIGHTON ROAD</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>CLIFTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NJ</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>07015</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>SVP, HR, Admin and Corp. Secr.</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-03-04</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>18750</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>21.44</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>29945</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-03-04</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>18750</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>35.90</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>11195</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Options (Right to Buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>21.44</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-03-04</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>18750</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0.00</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>18750</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>6250</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The options were granted October 12, 2000 and are exercisable in one-fourth increments on October 12, 2001, October 12, 2002, October 12, 2003 and October 12, 2004.  The options expire on October 12, 2010.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Brian D. Silva</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-03-05</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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