<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001562180-19-003868.txt : 20190703
<SEC-HEADER>0001562180-19-003868.hdr.sgml : 20190703
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20190703190053
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001562180-19-003868
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20190701
FILED AS OF DATE:		20190703
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20190703

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Justesen Jon L
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001311958

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-21886
		FILM NUMBER:		19942952

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		8100 NE PARKWAY DRIVE
		STREET 2:		SUITE 200
		CITY:			VANCOUVER
		STATE:			WA
		ZIP:			98662

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BARRETT BUSINESS SERVICES INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000902791
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SERVICES-HELP SUPPLY SERVICES [7363]
		IRS NUMBER:				520812977
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			MD
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		8100 NE PARKWAY DRIVE
		STREET 2:		SUITE 200
		CITY:			VANCOUVER
		STATE:			WA
		ZIP:			98662
		BUSINESS PHONE:		(800) 494-5669

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		8100 NE PARKWAY DRIVE
		STREET 2:		SUITE 200
		CITY:			VANCOUVER
		STATE:			WA
		ZIP:			98662
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primarydocument.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
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<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2019-07-01</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>false</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000902791</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>BARRETT BUSINESS SERVICES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>BBSI</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001311958</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Justesen Jon L</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>8100 NE PARKWAY DRIVE, SUITE 200</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>VANCOUVER</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>WA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>98662</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>true</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>false</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>false</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>false</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

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                <value>Common Stock</value>
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            <transactionDate>
                <value>2019-07-01</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
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                <equitySwapInvolved>false</equitySwapInvolved>
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            <transactionAmounts>
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                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
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                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>11558.00</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
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                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
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        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>9499.00</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Justesen Ranches</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>7500.00</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Justesen Ranches Keogh Plan</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Restricted Stock Units</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2019-07-01</value>
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            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
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                <equitySwapInvolved>false</equitySwapInvolved>
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            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
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                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
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            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
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                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
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                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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            </securityTitle>
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                <equitySwapInvolved>false</equitySwapInvolved>
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                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
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                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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            <exerciseDate>
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            </underlyingSecurity>
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                <transactionPricePerShare>
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                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
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            </securityTitle>
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                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>false</equitySwapInvolved>
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                <transactionShares>
                    <value>324.00</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0.00</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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                <footnoteId id="F7"/>
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                <footnoteId id="F7"/>
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                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
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                    <value>324.00</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
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                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>323.00</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
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    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The reporting person is a co-owner of Justesen Ranches. The reporting person disclaims beneficial ownership of the reported securities except to the extent of his pecuniary interest therein.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Each Restricted Stock Unit represents a contingent right to receive one share of the Issuer's common stock.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">The Restricted Stock Units vest in one installment on July 1, 2020, and will be settled by delivery of unrestricted shares of common stock on the vesting date.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">The Restricted Stock Units vest in four equal annual installments beginning on July 1, 2016, and will be settled by delivery of unrestricted shares of common stock on the vesting date.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">The Restricted Stock Units vest in four equal annual installments beginning on July 1, 2017, and will be settled by delivery of unrestricted shares of common stock on the vesting date.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F6">The Restricted Stock Units vest in three equal annual installments beginning on July 1, 2018, and will be settled by delivery of unrestricted shares of common stock on the vesting date.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F7">The Restricted Stock Units vest in two equal annual installments beginning on July 1, 2019, and will be settled by delivery of unrestricted shares of common stock on the vesting date.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Anthony Harris, as attorney-in-fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2019-07-03</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
