-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
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,
 KvK6SMkZciwasxVb2dil3A99C/lBxARCp9zsKsOtfnzz3Mkz0WxXOcyd+mDB8icg
 d23sW7G00BhTmBqVoDwiiw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001256543-10-000046.txt : 20101117
<SEC-HEADER>0001256543-10-000046.hdr.sgml : 20101117
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20101117184112
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001256543-10-000046
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20101117
FILED AS OF DATE:		20101117
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20101117

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			WAITE LESLIE A
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001256413

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-13122
		FILM NUMBER:		101200859

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		350 S GRAND AVENUE STE 3970
		CITY:			LOS ANGELES
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			90071

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			RELIANCE STEEL & ALUMINUM CO
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000861884
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	WHOLESALE-METALS SERVICE CENTERS & OFFICES [5051]
		IRS NUMBER:				951142616
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			CA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		350 S GRAND AVE STE 5100
		CITY:			LOS ANGELES
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			90071
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2136877700

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		350 S GRAND AVE STE 5100
		CITY:			LOS ANGELES
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			90071
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2010-11-17</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000861884</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>RELIANCE STEEL &amp; ALUMINUM CO</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>RS</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001256413</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>WAITE LESLIE A</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O LOMBARDIA CAPITAL PARTNERS</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>55 S. LAKE STREET, SUITE 750</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>PASADENA</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>91101</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>2010-11-17</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2500</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>43.98</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>111312</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The price reported represents the weighted average sale price of the shares disposed of. The actual sale prices ranged from $43.98 to 43.99. The Reporting Person has provided to the Issuer and hereby undertakes to provide upon request by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission Staff or a security holder of the Issuer, full information regarding  the number of shares sold at each separate price.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Leslie A. Waite by Kay Rustand as his Attorney-in-Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-11-17</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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