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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000028917-09-000043.txt : 20090714
<SEC-HEADER>0000028917-09-000043.hdr.sgml : 20090714
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20090714160842
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000028917-09-000043
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20090203
FILED AS OF DATE:		20090714
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20090714

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BURNETT G KENT
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001182840

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-06140
		FILM NUMBER:		09943999

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1600 CANTRELL ROAD
		CITY:			LITTLE ROCK
		STATE:			AR
		ZIP:			72201

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			DILLARDS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000028917
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	RETAIL-DEPARTMENT STORES [5311]
		IRS NUMBER:				710388071
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0203

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1600 CANTRELL RD
		CITY:			LITTLE ROCK
		STATE:			AR
		ZIP:			72201
		BUSINESS PHONE:		5013765200

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	DILLARD DEPARTMENT STORES INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19920703
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2009-02-03</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000028917</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>DILLARDS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>DDS</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001182840</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>BURNETT G KENT</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1600 CANTRELL ROAD</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>LITTLE ROCK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>AR</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>72201</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>VP, President Phoenix Div</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Class A</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-02-03</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>228</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>4.40</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>80825</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Class A</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-05-05</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>118</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>8.60</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>86265</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Class A - Retirement Plan</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>11906</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Represents an aquisition of Class A Common Stock from contributions to the Dillard's, Inc &quot;Stock Purchase Plan&quot;.  Effective January 1, 2008, the Issuer's qualified defined contribution retirement plan was amended and, accordingly, subsequent to that date the Stock Purchase Plan no longer meets all of the requirements for an &quot;Excess Benefit Plan&quot; under which transactions are generally exempt from reporting pursuant to Rules16b-3(c) and 16a-3(f)(1)(i)(B) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 ( the &quot;Act&quot;).  Such aquisistions, however, continue to be exempt from potential liability under Section 16(b)  of the Act pursuant to Rule 16b-3(d) under the Act.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ G. Kent Burnett</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2009-07-13</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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