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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,
 SvbCFU8itMwuW4wfjP5GpvdDjAgjJgRTZ91YtzKxSGtAIfPYu9sUApK0d6mAcF7y
 PwDoGZ24ItqED+OoaFmyIQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000768835-03-000014.txt : 20031002
<SEC-HEADER>0000768835-03-000014.hdr.sgml : 20031002
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20031002164054
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000768835-03-000014
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030909
FILED AS OF DATE:		20031002

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			TISHKOFF DENNIS B
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001191212

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-08897
		FILM NUMBER:		03924856

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		300 PHILLIPI RD
		CITY:			COLUMBUS
		STATE:			OH
		ZIP:			43228
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6142786800

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>2003-09-09</periodOfReport>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000768835</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>BIG LOTS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>BLI</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001191212</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>TISHKOFF DENNIS B</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>300 PHILLIPI ROAD</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>COLUMBUS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>OH</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>43228</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><derivativeTable><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Stock Purchase Option</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>17.47</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-09-09</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>10000</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><footnoteId id="F2"/></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>2004-09-09</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2013-10-09</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></
underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>10000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>69878</value><footnoteId id="F3"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Dates in this column reflect the first of three annual vesting dates upon which 20%, 40% and 40%, respectively, of the Stock Purchase Option becomes exercisable.</footnote><footnote id="F2">Option issued under Director Stock Option Plan.</footnote><footnote id="F3">11 Stock Purchase Options representing 69,878 underlying shares of Common Stock.</footnote></footnotes><remarks/><ownerSignature><signatureName>Charles W. Haubiel II, attorney in fact for Dennis B. Tishkoff</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-10-02</signature
Date></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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