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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 EBEXlEhmRK9tQWumUGjXs2ff9x0XRXLYPslHUn0kJS/3iCA0M/HDeWUiFWtJ/4hE
 nm4de9SBvudO30nede+fVw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001256543-10-000023.txt : 20100412
<SEC-HEADER>0001256543-10-000023.hdr.sgml : 20100412
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20100412183003
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001256543-10-000023
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	3/A
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20081003
FILED AS OF DATE:		20100412
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20100412

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			HOFFMAN JAMES DONALD
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001447652

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		3/A
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-13122
		FILM NUMBER:		10745811

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1900 MITCHELL BOULEVARD
		CITY:			SCHAUMBURG
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60193

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			RELIANCE STEEL & ALUMINUM CO
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000861884
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	WHOLESALE-METALS SERVICE CENTERS & OFFICES [5051]
		IRS NUMBER:				951142616
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			CA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		350 S GRAND AVE STE 5100
		CITY:			LOS ANGELES
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			90071
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2136877700

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		350 S GRAND AVE STE 5100
		CITY:			LOS ANGELES
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			90071
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>3/A
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0203</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3/A</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2008-10-03</periodOfReport>

    <dateOfOriginalSubmission>2008-10-10</dateOfOriginalSubmission>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000861884</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>RELIANCE STEEL &amp; ALUMINUM CO</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>RS</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001447652</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>HOFFMAN JAMES DONALD</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>350 SOUTH GRAND AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 5100</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>LOS ANGELES</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>90071</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Sr. Vice President Operations</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Option to Acquire Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>24.92</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2015-06-07</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>2676</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The options vested and became exercisable in four  equal annual installments beginning on March 31, 2006.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The original Form 3 incorrectly reported that the reporting person beneficially owned 10,704  options to acquire common stock with an exercise price of $24.92, vesting annually in four equal installments beginning on March 31, 2006, and expiring on June 17, 2015. As of the filing date of the original Form 3, the reporting person beneficially owned only 2,676 of such options, along with other reported options with various exercise prices and expiration dates differing from these options.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">In the aggregate, the reporting person beneficially owns a total of  85,176 options (with various exercise  prices and expiration dates) as of the date of this report.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>James D. Hoffman by Kay Rustand as his Attorney-in-Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-04-12</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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