-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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 LT/BLC2XU5m2lH2f9BP+GA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001175748-06-000003.txt : 20060601
<SEC-HEADER>0001175748-06-000003.hdr.sgml : 20060601
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20060601100510
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001175748-06-000003
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20060531
FILED AS OF DATE:		20060601
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20060601

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:		7852335171

	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:			PORZIG ULLRICH E
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001175748

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-14770
		FILM NUMBER:		06878715

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		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>2006-05-31</periodOfReport>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001175748</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>PORZIG ULLRICH E</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>3231 S.E. SIXTH AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>TOPEKA</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>KS</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>66607</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>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2006-05-31</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>368</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>26.24</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>76598</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>Trust and 401(k) Plan</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>10590</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The reporting person holds 68,595 shares indirectly in a trust account and approximately 7,871 indirectly under the Payless ShoeSource, Inc. 401(k)  Plan (the &quot;Plan&quot;) based on a statement provided by the Plan Administrator.  Because the Common Stock Fund under the Plan holds both cash and Payless Common Stock, the actual number of shares allocable to each participant's accounts varies from statement to statement.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Ullrich E. Porzig</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2006-06-01</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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