-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 GOw796guQsfnfheGI0tsiQXW24eMPBQ/a4MVxunA0rznNujgGC82o7/KAVzlNzC4
 hjaTHARJJh7u97/ZlG+4xg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001225033-10-000005.txt : 20100614
<SEC-HEADER>0001225033-10-000005.hdr.sgml : 20100614
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20100614111242
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001225033-10-000005
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20100611
FILED AS OF DATE:		20100614
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20100614

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			CHAMBERS NORMAN C
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001205070

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-14315
		FILM NUMBER:		10894030

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		6 MAPLE LOFT PLACE
		CITY:			THE WOODLANDS
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			77381

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			NCI BUILDING SYSTEMS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000883902
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	PREFABRICATED METAL BUILDINGS & COMPONENTS [3448]
		IRS NUMBER:				760127701
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1102

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		10943 NORTH SAM HOUSTON PARKWAY W
		CITY:			HOUSTON TEXAS
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			77064
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2818977799

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		10943 NORTH SAM HOUSTON PARKWAY WEST
		CITY:			HOUSTON
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			77064

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	NATIONAL COMPONENTS INCORPORATED
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19600201
</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>2010-06-11</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000883902</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>NCI BUILDING SYSTEMS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>NCS</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001205070</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>CHAMBERS NORMAN C</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>10943 NORTH SAM HOUSTON PARKWAY WEST</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>HOUSTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>TX</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>77064</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Chairman, President &amp; CEO</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, $0.01 par value</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2010-06-11</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>95516</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>8.56</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>338130</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, $0.01 par value</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>985</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>NCI 401(k) Plan.</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Holdings in 401(k) plan calculated as of June 10, 2010.  Effective March 5, 2010, the common stock of NCI Building Systems, Inc. underwent a reverse split at a 1-for-5 ratio, resulting in a reduction of the reporting person's shares at that time.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Effective March 5, 2010, the common stock of NCI Building Systems, Inc. underwent a reverse split at a 1-for-5 ratio, resulting in a reduction of the reporting person's shares at that time.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Todd R. Moore (by power of attorney)</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-06-14</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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