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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,
 N9Xd93D3HBWQgw/mV+J+iwWS5sQliHQUtvoyj1jMI2V5q3lWmx19tJ8rUnkv4wA/
 xODLJAiQhoy6Ks7+NT3dvQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000768835-03-000005.txt : 20030829
<SEC-HEADER>0000768835-03-000005.hdr.sgml : 20030829
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030829111209
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000768835-03-000005
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030828
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030829

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			KOLLAT DAVID T
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001015790
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	FOOTWEAR, (NO RUBBER) [3140]
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-08897
		FILM NUMBER:		03872873

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O 22, INC.
		STREET 2:		4410 SMOTHERS ROAD
		CITY:			WESTERVILLE
		STATE:			OH
		ZIP:			43081
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6145230041

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		9341 COURTLAND DR
		CITY:			ROCKFORD
		STATE:			MI
		ZIP:			49351

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BIG LOTS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000768835
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	RETAIL-VARIETY STORES [5331]
		IRS NUMBER:				061119097
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			OH
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0131

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		300 PHILLIPI ROAD
		STREET 2:		P.O.BOX 28512
		CITY:			COLUMBUS
		STATE:			OH
		ZIP:			43228-0512
		BUSINESS PHONE:		614-278-6800

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		300 PHILLIPI ROAD
		STREET 2:		P.O.BOX 28512
		CITY:			COLUMBUS
		STATE:			OH
		ZIP:			43228-0512
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-08-28</periodOfReport>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000768835</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>BIG LOTS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>BLI</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001015790</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>KOLLAT DAVID T</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>4410 SMOTHERS ROAD</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>WESTERVILLE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>OH</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>43081</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</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-08-28</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>M</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>7813</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>10.88</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>91408</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNatur
e></nonDerivativeTransaction></nonDerivativeTable><derivativeTable><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Stock Purchase Option</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>10.88</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-08-28</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>M</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>7813</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>0</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>1994-09-09</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2003-10-09</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>7813</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecu
rity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>58439</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">One stock purchase option representing 7,813 underlying shares of common stock.</footnote><footnote id="F2">Nine stock purchase options representing 58,439 underlying shares of common stock.</footnote></footnotes><remarks/><ownerSignature><signatureName>Charles W. Haubiel II, attorney in fact for David T. Kollat</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-08-29</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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