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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 Bsx6Fn9bqdcwz/dRGEtLmF37C1wK6u7LOaCXNJO9ZJ0wE8zDFLLFnnQDxmqqGaDl
 kkRaHFgECubSOTzpP7d/bg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001012975-03-000376.txt : 20031216
<SEC-HEADER>0001012975-03-000376.hdr.sgml : 20031216
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20031216163155
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001012975-03-000376
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031212
FILED AS OF DATE:		20031216

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BARSHAY STANLEY F
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001266737

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-20214
		FILM NUMBER:		031057717

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O BED BATH & BEYOND INC
		STREET 2:		650 LIBERTY AVENUE
		CITY:			UNION
		STATE:			NJ
		ZIP:			07083
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9086880888

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BED BATH & BEYOND INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000886158
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	RETAIL-HOME FURNITURE, FURNISHINGS & EQUIPMENT STORES [5700]
		IRS NUMBER:				112250488
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			NY
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0228

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		650 LIBERTY AVENUE
		CITY:			UNION
		STATE:			NJ
		ZIP:			07083
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2013791520

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		715 MORRIS AVENUE
		CITY:			SPRINGFIELD
		STATE:			NJ
		ZIP:			07081
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>

<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2003-12-12</periodOfReport>


    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000886158</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>BED BATH &amp; BEYOND INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>BBBY</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001266737</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>BARSHAY STANLEY F</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O BED BATH &amp; BEYOND INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>650 LIBERTY AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>UNION</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NJ</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>07083</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>2003-12-12</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1000</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>40.93</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2000</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>

        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>200</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By spouse</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>

    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Represents shares acquired by the Reporting Person in joint tenancy with the spouse of the Reporting Person</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Includes 1,000 shares held by the Reporting Person in joint tenancy with the spouse of the Reporting Person.</footnote>
    </footnotes>


    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/Stanley F. Barshay</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-12-16</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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