-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 G0kSjm0bC75+2QUQsEJUGUNVPT6aO+MAsARRd4FCCmzjnlOeJvGAf11P/QfEclEn
 6yBeTLPsk+l0DYFC/R1+aw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001181715-03-000003.txt : 20030606
<SEC-HEADER>0001181715-03-000003.hdr.sgml : 20030606
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030606144026
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001181715-03-000003
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030606
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030606

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MAHONEY JOHN
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001181715

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-17586
		FILM NUMBER:		03735721

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		500 STAPLES DR
		CITY:			FRAMINGHAM
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			01702

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			STAPLES INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000791519
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	RETAIL-MISCELLANEOUS SHOPPING GOODS STORES [5940]
		IRS NUMBER:				042896127
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0127

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		500 STAPLES DRIVE
		STREET 2:		P O BOX 9328
		CITY:			FRAMINGHAM
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			01702
		BUSINESS PHONE:		5082535000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		500 STAPLES DR
		CITY:			FRAMINGHAM
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			01702
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>doc4.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
    <periodOfReport>2003-06-06</periodOfReport>
    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000791519</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>STAPLES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>SPLS</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001181715</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>MAHONEY JOHN</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>EVP, CAO and CFO</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>
   <nonDerivativeSecurity>
      <securityTitle>
          <value>Staples Stock</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <transactionDate>
          <value>2003-05-12</value>
      </transactionDate>
      <deemedExecutionDate>
          <value>2003-06-06</value>
      </deemedExecutionDate>
      <transactionCoding>
          <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
          <transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
          <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
              <footnoteId id="F1" />
      </transactionCoding>
      <transactionTimeliness>
      <value />
      </transactionTimeliness>
      <transactionAmounts>
          <transactionShares>
              <value>15187</value>
          </transactionShares>
          <transactionValue>
              <value>20.69</value>
          </transactionValue>
          <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
              <value>D</value>
          </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
      </transactionAmounts>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
          <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
              <value>255574</value>
          </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
          <directOrIndirectOwnership>
              <value>D</value>
          </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </nonDerivativeSecurity>
<footnotes>
   <footnote id="F1">These shares were sold to Staples to satisfy the withholding tax liability associated with the vesting of performance accelerated
d restricted stock granted in 2001.</footnote>
</footnotes>
    <ownerSignature>
       <signatureName>John J. Mahoney</signatureName>
       <signatureDate>2003-06-06</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
    <ownerSignature>
       <signatureName>John J. Mahoney</signatureName>
       <signatureDate>2003-06-06</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----