-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000891098-10-000018.txt : 20100317
<SEC-HEADER>0000891098-10-000018.hdr.sgml : 20100317
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20100317134454
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000891098-10-000018
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20100316
FILED AS OF DATE:		20100317
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20100317

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Goolsby James W Jr
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001453725

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-20750
		FILM NUMBER:		10688377

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O STERLING BANK
		STREET 2:		2550 NORTH LOOP WEST, SUITE 600
		CITY:			HOUSTON
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			77092

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			STERLING BANCSHARES INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000891098
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	STATE COMMERCIAL BANKS [6022]
		IRS NUMBER:				742175590
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			TX
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		10260 WESTHEIMER
		CITY:			HOUSTON
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			77042
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7134668300

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		10260 WESTHEIMER
		CITY:			HOUSTON
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			77042
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2010-03-16</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000891098</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>STERLING BANCSHARES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>SBIB</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001453725</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Goolsby James W Jr</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>2550 NORTH LOOP WEST, SUITE 600</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>HOUSTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>TX</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>77092</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>E.V.P. &amp; General Counsel</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Sterling Bancshares, Inc. Common Stock; $1.00 par value</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2010-03-16</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1250</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>52646</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Sterling Bancshares, Inc. Common Stock; $1.00 par value</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2010-03-16</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>471</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>5.12</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>52175</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The comparison to Sterling's Peer Group for the 2007 Performance Based Phantom Stock Units, that lapsed on 12/31/2009, has been completed with 50% of the award being earned.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Janet B. Groue / Attorney-in-Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-03-17</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----