<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0000935703-03-000063
<TYPE>4
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>1
<PERIOD>20030829
<FILING-DATE>20030903
<ISSUER>
<COMPANY-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>DOLLAR TREE STORES INC
<CIK>0000935703
<ASSIGNED-SIC>5331
<IRS-NUMBER>541387365
<STATE-OF-INCORPORATION>VA
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>1231
</COMPANY-DATA>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>500 VOLVO PARKWAY
<STREET2>N/A
<CITY>CHESAPEAKE
<STATE>VA
<ZIP>23320
<PHONE>(757) 321-5000
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>500 VOLVO PARKWAY
<CITY>CHESAPEAKE
<STATE>VA
<ZIP>23320
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</ISSUER>
<REPORTING-OWNER>
<OWNER-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>BROCK MACON F JR
<CIK>0001008146
</OWNER-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>4
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>000-25464
<FILM-NUMBER>03879952
</FILING-VALUES>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>500 VOLVO PARKWAY
<CITY>CHESAPEAKE
<STATE>VA
<ZIP>23320
<PHONE>7573215000
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>500 VOLVO PARKWAY
<CITY>CHESAPEAKE
<STATE>VA
<ZIP>23320
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</REPORTING-OWNER>
<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>2003-08-29</periodOfReport>


    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000935703</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>DOLLAR TREE STORES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>DLTR</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001008146</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>BROCK MACON F JR</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>500 VOLVO PARKWAY</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>CHESAPEAKE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>VA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>23320</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Chief Executive Officer</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>

        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2003-08-29</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>150000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>39.0178</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>747956</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>Trusts (Descendants')</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>

    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Average price of multiple related transactions. All trades occurred on this date with prices ranging from $38.89 to $39.20.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Total non-derivative holdings: 1,318,697 direct; 2,383,977 indirect.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Disclaimer: Reporting person disclaims beneficial ownership of all indirectly held securities and this report shall not be deemed an admission that the reporting person is the beneficial owner of these securities for purposes of Section 16 or any other person.</footnote>
    </footnotes>


    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Frederick C. Coble, attorney-in-fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-09-03</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SUBMISSION>
