-----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,
 DjOIC8JSL5wZzuDn8jlFqTf+/7c8pIdzOLBtgURKeecgU2U1TX8LmP4/kcEHBhTI
 uaMDjx5bS3f2ivqiEznvew==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001192091-05-000008.txt : 20050118
<SEC-HEADER>0001192091-05-000008.hdr.sgml : 20050117
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20050118103934
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001192091-05-000008
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20050114
FILED AS OF DATE:		20050118
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20050118

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			CARREKER JAMES D
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001015836

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-07288
		FILM NUMBER:		05532461

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8173478200

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		THE BOMBAY COMPANY, INC.
		STREET 2:		550 BAILEY AVENUE
		CITY:			FORT WORTH
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			76107-2111

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BOMBAY COMPANY INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000096287
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	RETAIL-FURNITURE STORES [5712]
		IRS NUMBER:				751475223
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0128

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		550 BAILEY AVE STE 700
		CITY:			FORT WORTH
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			76107
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8173478200

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		550 BAILEY AVENUE
		STREET 2:		SUITE 700
		CITY:			FORT WORTH
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			76107

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	TANDY BRANDS INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19901114
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2005-01-14</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000096287</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>BOMBAY COMPANY INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>BBA</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001015836</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>CARREKER JAMES D</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>550 BAILEY AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>FORT WORTH</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>TX</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>76107</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Chairman of the Board and CEO</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-01-14</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>20000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>5.598</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>404436</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes></footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Michael J. Veitenheimer, Attorney in Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-01-18</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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