-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 BHktCkKSksipY+tuJr/jt1i2ETQ0TbfB32fgvnJ04EVwK4/50yuFkV/1i3MgMtM3
 AD7WcKw5Z7aOcP11FBGIsw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001123292-08-000451.txt : 20080605
<SEC-HEADER>0001123292-08-000451.hdr.sgml : 20080605
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20080605174930
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001123292-08-000451
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20080603
FILED AS OF DATE:		20080605
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20080605

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			XM SATELLITE RADIO HOLDINGS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001091530
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	COMMUNICATION SERVICES, NEC [4899]
		IRS NUMBER:				541878819
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1500 ECKINGTON PL NE
		CITY:			WASHINGTON
		STATE:			DC
		ZIP:			20002
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2023804000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1500 ECKINGTON PL NE
		CITY:			WASHINGTON
		STATE:			DC
		ZIP:			20002

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			IRVIN VERNON
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001213211

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-27441
		FILM NUMBER:		08883979

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2023804000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1500 ECKINGTON PLACE, NE
		STREET 2:		ATTN: GENERAL COUNSEL
		CITY:			WASHINGTON
		STATE:			DC
		ZIP:			20002
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2008-06-03</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001091530</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>XM SATELLITE RADIO HOLDINGS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>XMSR</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001213211</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>IRVIN VERNON</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O XM SATELLITE RADIO</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>1500 ECKINGTON PLACE, N.E.</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>WASHINGTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>DC</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>20002</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>EVP, Marketing</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-06-03</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>23382</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>10.87</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>227277</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-06-05</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>6500</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>11.56</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>220777</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-06-05</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>6500</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>11.43</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>214277</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Shares of common stock sold are equal to federal and state taxes due as the result of the vesting of restricted stock.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Excludes 200,000 shares underlying vested and unvested stock options.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Joseph M. Titlebaum, attorney-in-fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-06-05</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----