<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0001246360-08-001027
<TYPE>4
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>1
<PERIOD>20080313
<FILING-DATE>20080317
<DATE-OF-FILING-DATE-CHANGE>20080317
<ISSUER>
<COMPANY-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>STAPLES INC
<CIK>0000791519
<ASSIGNED-SIC>5940
<IRS-NUMBER>042896127
<STATE-OF-INCORPORATION>DE
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>0227
</COMPANY-DATA>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>500 STAPLES DRIVE
<STREET2>P O BOX 9328
<CITY>FRAMINGHAM
<STATE>MA
<ZIP>01702
<PHONE>5082535000
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>500 STAPLES DR
<CITY>FRAMINGHAM
<STATE>MA
<ZIP>01702
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</ISSUER>
<REPORTING-OWNER>
<OWNER-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>SULENTIC ROBERT E
<CIK>0001190868
</OWNER-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>4
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>000-17586
<FILM-NUMBER>08692216
</FILING-VALUES>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>2001 ROSS AVENUE
<STREET2>SUITE 3400
<CITY>DALLAS
<STATE>TX
<ZIP>75201
<PHONE>214-863-3195
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>2001 ROSS AVENUE
<STREET2>SUITE 3400
<CITY>DALLAS
<STATE>TX
<ZIP>75230
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</REPORTING-OWNER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>form.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2008-03-13</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>false</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000791519</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>STAPLES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>SPLS</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001190868</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>SULENTIC ROBERT E</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>FIVE HUNDRED STAPLES DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 3400</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>FRAMINGHAM</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>01702</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>true</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>false</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>false</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>false</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-03-13</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>false</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>5214</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>6414</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Option to Purchase</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>21.58</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-03-13</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>false</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>16699</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2009-03-13</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2018-03-13</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>16699</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>16699</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">See Table II, Column 2</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Restricted stock vesting on March 13, 2009 and further restricted by a holding period which lapses when the reporting person no longer serves as a Director.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Kristin A. Campbell, attorney-in-fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-03-17</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SUBMISSION>
