<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2003-08-27</periodOfReport>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>1</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000719955</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>WILLIAMS SONOMA INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>WSM</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001096818</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>AHUJA SANJIV</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O SCIENCE APPLICATIONS INTERNATIONAL C</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>10260 CAMPUS POINT DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SAN DIEGO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>92121</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>By: Beau Davidson, Attorney-in-Fact  For: Sanjiv Ahuja</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-08-28</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

