-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 SinlVd/Nm+WV25PCjixKWFiHSlCBlvFV5L6QUXeKLa5yFEXM+bh5OwarErwLRLN3
 0GzqgwWl/LQ3rehieb7c+Q==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000949265-04-000393.txt : 20040505
<SEC-HEADER>0000949265-04-000393.hdr.sgml : 20040505
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040505170136
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000949265-04-000393
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040504
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040505

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			LIMITED BRANDS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000701985
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	RETAIL-WOMEN'S CLOTHING STORES [5621]
		IRS NUMBER:				311029810
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0131

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		THREE LIMITED PKWY
		STREET 2:		P O BOX 16000
		CITY:			COLUMBUS
		STATE:			OH
		ZIP:			43216
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6144157000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		THREE LIMITED PARKWAY
		STREET 2:		P.O. BOX 16000
		CITY:			COLUMBUS
		STATE:			OH
		ZIP:			43216

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	LIMITED INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19920703

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			FREEDMAN EUGENE M
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001160636

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-08344
		FILM NUMBER:		04782265

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		TWO CANAL PARK
		CITY:			CAMBRIDGE
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			02141
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6172522211

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		TWO CANAL PARK
		CITY:			CAMPBRIDGE
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			02141
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>fre131.xml
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-05-04</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000701985</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>LIMITED BRANDS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>LTD</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001160636</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>FREEDMAN EUGENE M</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>63 SYLVAN LANE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>WESTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>02493</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, $0.50 par value</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-05-04</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>800</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>17513</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes></footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>By: Robert J. Tannous, Attorney-in-Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-05-04</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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