<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-09-15</periodOfReport>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000028917</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>DILLARDS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>DDS</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001179684</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>DILLARD WILLIAM T II</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1600 CANTRELL ROAD</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>LITTLE ROCK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>AR</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>72201</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>CEO, Chairman of Board</officerTitle></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Class A</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-09-15</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>102</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>15.079</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>533074</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/><footnoteId id="F1"/><footnoteId id="F2"/><footnoteId id="F3"/><footnoteId id="F4"/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction></nonDerivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">78,207 Shares - Retirement Plan</footnote><footnote id="F2"> 64,250 Shares Dillard's Capital Trust 1</footnote><footnote id="F3">41,496 Shares By W.D. Company. Reporting person owns 27.4%.  This is W.D. Co.'s enitre interest.</footnote><footnote id="F4"> 3,985,776 Class B Shares By W.D. Company. Reporting person owns 27.4.%.  This is W.D. Co's entire interest. </footnote></footnotes><remarks/><ownerSignature><signatureName>/s/ William Dillard II</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-09-15</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

