-----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,
 LoIjul3MSFriVahqNykqMoVX94fH72g89T/WdV7P+SG+xDeWpx05NErham301zGh
 4RMFgfm7plnyXk22R8p8IA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000794367-06-000109.txt : 20060522
<SEC-HEADER>0000794367-06-000109.hdr.sgml : 20060522
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20060522104315
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000794367-06-000109
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20060519
FILED AS OF DATE:		20060522
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20060522

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:			0128

	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:			NEUBAUER JOSEPH
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000905129
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			PA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-13536
		FILM NUMBER:		06857311

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		THE ARA GROUP INC
		STREET 2:		1101 MARKET STREET
		CITY:			PHILADELPHIA
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			19107
		BUSINESS PHONE:		215-238-3000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1101 MARKET STREET
		STREET 2:		31ST FLOOR
		CITY:			PHILADELPHIA
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			19107
</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>2006-05-19</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0000905129</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>NEUBAUER JOSEPH</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1101 MARKET STREET</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>31ST FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>PHILADELPHIA</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>PA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>19107</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Options to Purchase Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>72.47</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2006-05-19</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>5000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2016-05-19</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>5000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Grant to reporting person of options to purchase 5,000 shares of common stock under the Issuer's Executive Equity Incentive Plan.  The options become exercisable in 25% increments on March 19, 2007, March 19, 2008, March 19, 2009 and March 19, 2010.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/Padma Tatta Cariappa, as attorney-in-fact for Joseph Neubauer pursuant to a Power of Attorney</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2006-05-22</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----