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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 N2wPiaCrZ/CVSD1G27vvhn2jijad91g8KMsLh+wKqajW5IetBp405oSGx+LXDAWv
 UnYa3OyrIIvOx3OZBJSjDw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000028917-09-000133.txt : 20091124
<SEC-HEADER>0000028917-09-000133.hdr.sgml : 20091124
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20091124173528
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000028917-09-000133
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20091123
FILED AS OF DATE:		20091124
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20091124

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			FREEMAN JAME I
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001180011

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-06140
		FILM NUMBER:		091205746

	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>2009-11-23</periodOfReport>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001180011</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>FREEMAN JAME I</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>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Senior VP, CFO</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Class A</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-11-23</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>397</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>16.56</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>403665</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>12905</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes></footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ James I. Freeman</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2009-11-23</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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