<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001428204-12-000015.txt : 20120614
<SEC-HEADER>0001428204-12-000015.hdr.sgml : 20120614
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20120614153347
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001428204-12-000015
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20120612
FILED AS OF DATE:		20120614
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20120614

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Jessick David
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001298387

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-49850
		FILM NUMBER:		12907504

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		15465 SE RIVERSHORE DRIVE
		CITY:			VANCOUVER
		STATE:			WA
		ZIP:			98683

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BIG 5 SPORTING GOODS CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001156388
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	RETAIL-MISCELLANEOUS SHOPPING GOODS STORES [5940]
		IRS NUMBER:				954388794
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2525 EAST EL SEGUNDO BOULEVARD
		CITY:			EL SEGUNDO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			90245-4632
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3102977706

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2525 EAST EL SEGUNDO BOULEVARD
		CITY:			EL SEGUNDO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			90245-4632

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	BIG 5 HOLDINGS CORP
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	20010802
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0305</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2012-06-12</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001156388</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>BIG 5 SPORTING GOODS CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>BGFV</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001298387</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Jessick David</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O BIG 5 SPORTING GOODS CORPORATION</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>2525 EAST EL SEGUNDO BLVD</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>EL SEGUNDO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>90245</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, par value $.01</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2012-06-12</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>3000</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>15000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Director Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>6.33</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2012-06-12</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>3000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2022-06-12</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock, par value $.01</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>3000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>3000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">3,000 restricted stock units were granted to the reporting person which vest in four equal annual installments, commencing on June 12, 2013.  Vested shares will be delivered to the reporting person on the tenth business day of January following the year in which the reporting person's service as a director is terminated.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The options vest in four equal annual installments, commencing on June 12, 2013.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>GARY S. MEADE, ATTORNEY-IN-FACT</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2012-06-13</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
