<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0001127602-06-002320
<TYPE>4
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>1
<PERIOD>20061001
<FILING-DATE>20061002
<DATE-OF-FILING-DATE-CHANGE>20061002
<ISSUER>
<COMPANY-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>DOLLAR TREE STORES INC
<CIK>0000935703
<ASSIGNED-SIC>5331
<IRS-NUMBER>541387365
<STATE-OF-INCORPORATION>VA
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>0131
</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>Citrino Mary Anne
<CIK>0001334494
</OWNER-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>4
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>000-25464
<FILM-NUMBER>061119745
</FILING-VALUES>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<PHONE>212-583-5895
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>345 PARK AVENUE
<STREET2>29TH FLOOR
<CITY>NEW YORK
<STATE>NY
<ZIP>10154
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</REPORTING-OWNER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>form4.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2006-10-01</periodOfReport>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001334494</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Citrino Mary Anne</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>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock (deferred)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2006-10-01</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>662.14</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>30.96</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>4721.92</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Acquired under the 2003 Director Deferred Compensation Plan, in lieu of director's fees for the applicable period.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Erica Robb, attorney-in-fact for Ms. Citrino</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2006-10-02</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SUBMISSION>
