-----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,
 Ek1HNr3dZ00Ln1+CB7+U3czsoja2ODWN/DQfDfHN0ABpW/v3V19n3Np+sx9zbfDL
 /BdrX9CC5r7ZFrEcDzSeoA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001223858-03-000002.txt : 20030603
<SEC-HEADER>0001223858-03-000002.hdr.sgml : 20030603
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030603132353
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001223858-03-000002
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030602
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030603

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ABROMOVITZ GARY B
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001223858

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-14669
		FILM NUMBER:		03729761

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1 HELEN OF TROY PLAZA
		CITY:			EL PASO
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			79912

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			HELEN OF TROY LTD
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000916789
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	ELECTRIC HOUSEWARES & FANS [3634]
		IRS NUMBER:				742692550
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0228

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		CLARENDON HOUSE
		STREET 2:		CHURCH STREET
		CITY:			HAMILTON BERMUDA
		STATE:			D0
		ZIP:			-
		BUSINESS PHONE:		915-225-8000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE HELEN OF TROY PLAZA
		CITY:			EL PASO
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			79912
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-06-02</periodOfReport>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000916789</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>HELEN OF TROY LTD</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>HELE</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001223858</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>ABROMOVITZ GARY B</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><derivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Non-Employee Director Stock Option (right to buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>14.935</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-06-02</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>5</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>4000</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>14.935</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>2004-06-02</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2013-06-02</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><unde
rlyingSecurityShares><value>4000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>84000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeSecurity><footnotes/><ownerSignature><signatureName>Corey A. Goldsand  as Attorney-in-Fact for Gary Abromovitz</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-06-03</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----