-----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,
 Fk5tkhmYqiHMeX09wI94Rh+bxyKQNzUhpMedAXKVVlUDZRwvO8+/7YGSlvCpvdtB
 dSapEJWEyM/QVSh6bi/tcw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000794367-05-000018.txt : 20050315
<SEC-HEADER>0000794367-05-000018.hdr.sgml : 20050315
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20050315114323
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000794367-05-000018
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	5
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20050129
FILED AS OF DATE:		20050315
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20050315

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			FEDERATED DEPARTMENT STORES INC /DE/
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000794367
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	RETAIL-DEPARTMENT STORES [5311]
		IRS NUMBER:				133324058
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0131

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		7 WEST SEVENTH STREET
		CITY:			CINCINNATI
		STATE:			OH
		ZIP:			45202
		BUSINESS PHONE:		5135797000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		7 W SEVENTH ST
		CITY:			CINCINNATI
		STATE:			OH
		ZIP:			45202

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	R H MACY & CO INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19950307

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	MACY ACQUIRING CORP
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19861124

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			TYSOE RONALD W
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001184472

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		5
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-13536
		FILM NUMBER:		05680578

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O FEDERATED DEPARTMENT STORES INC
		STREET 2:		7 WEST SEVENTH STREET
		CITY:			CINCINNATI
		STATE:			OH
		ZIP:			45202
		BUSINESS PHONE:		5135797740

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O FEDERATED DEPARTMENT STORES, INC.
		STREET 2:		7 WEST SEVENTH STREET
		CITY:			CINCINNATI
		STATE:			OH
		ZIP:			45202
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>5
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>5</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2005-01-29</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <form3HoldingsReported>0</form3HoldingsReported>

    <form4TransactionsReported>0</form4TransactionsReported>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000794367</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>FEDERATED DEPARTMENT STORES INC /DE/</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>FD</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001184472</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>TYSOE RONALD W</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O FEDERATED DEPARTMENT STORES, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>7 WEST SEVENTH STREET</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>CINCINNATI</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>OH</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>45202</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Vice Chair</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-12-15</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>5</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>G</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1174</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>70063.52</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType></transactionFormType>
            </transactionCoding>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>243</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By 401(K) Plan</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Reflects matching contributions under the Issuer's 401(K) plan, derived by dividing the value of the undivided interest of the reporting person in the applicable investment fund as of January 28, 2005, by $55.22, the stock price of such date.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/Padma Tatta Cariappa, as attorney-in-fact for Ronald W. Tysoe pursuant to a Power of Attorney</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-03-15</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----