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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,
 LWIhVd/reIoQxdXCOoYU1/eDV04gqOm+0B7lV0QJ4tUDhut1JfRQyyXNhwNn5J5m
 rCODM7tEIwYIF9KgwDpMKQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000794367-05-000063.txt : 20050611
<SEC-HEADER>0000794367-05-000063.hdr.sgml : 20050611
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20050603115903
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000794367-05-000063
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20050513
FILED AS OF DATE:		20050603
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20050603

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:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-13536
		FILM NUMBER:		05876366

	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>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2005-05-13</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <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>2005-05-13</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>5</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>G</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value>E</value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1174</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>68889</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-06-01</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>16135</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>67.45</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>52754</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>329</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By 401(K) Plan</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Fractional share of .52 previously reported was paid out in cash pursuant to the Issuer's long term incentive plan.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">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 June 1, 2005 by $67.70, 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>2005-06-03</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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