-----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,
 GWmYmK/5WfOD9NgcSSwbgNVjwzrRSHcYYw0t+KieRdvbntbUg+cjaAzLwJhnNb0g
 oJ06jK/egjFICyWClb13zw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001175742-04-000003.txt : 20040525
<SEC-HEADER>0001175742-04-000003.hdr.sgml : 20040525
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040525173925
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001175742-04-000003
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040524
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040525

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			PAYLESS SHOESOURCE INC /DE/
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001060232
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	RETAIL-SHOE STORES [5661]
		IRS NUMBER:				431813160
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0130

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		3231 SOUTH EAST SIXTH STREET
		CITY:			TOPEKA
		STATE:			KS
		ZIP:			66607-2207
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9132335171

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		3231 S E 6TH ST
		CITY:			TOPEKA
		STATE:			KS
		ZIP:			66607-2207

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	PAYLESS SHOESOURCE HOLDINGS INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19980421

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			CANTRELL DUANE L
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001175742

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-14770
		FILM NUMBER:		04830718

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		3231 S E SIXTH AVENUE
		CITY:			TOPEKA
		STATE:			KS
		ZIP:			66607
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7852952087

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		3231 S E SIXTH AVENUE
		CITY:			TOPEKA
		STATE:			KS
		ZIP:			66607
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-05-24</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001060232</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>PAYLESS SHOESOURCE INC /DE/</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>PSS</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001175742</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>CANTRELL DUANE L</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>PAYLESS SHOESOURCE, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>3231 S.E. SIXTH AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>TOPEKA</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>KS</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>66607</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>President</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-05-24</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>375</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>15.66</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>40376</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>6695</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>401(k) Plan</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Includes approximately 601shares held under the Payless ShoeSource, Inc. Stock Ownership Plan.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Includes approximately 6,661 shares held under the Payless ShoeSource, Inc. 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan (the &quot;Plan&quot;) based on a statement provided by the Plan Administrator.  Because the Payless Common Stock Fund under the Plan holds both cash and Payless Common Stock, the actual number of shares allocable to each participant's account varies from statement to statement.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Duane L. Cantrell</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-05-24</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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