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

    <schemaVersion>X0203</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2011-07-18</periodOfReport>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000897893</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>PEERLESS SYSTEMS CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>PRLS</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001526136</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Kalkstein Robert L</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>300 ATLANTIC ST</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 301</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>STAMFORD</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CT</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>06901</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Acting Chief Financial Officer</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>10000</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Options to acquire common stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>3.2</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2011-10-18</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2020-10-18</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>20000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Includes 5,000 shares of restricted common stock, the restrictions on which lapse on October 18, 2012.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Options vest and become exercisable in four equal, annual installments beginning on October 18, 2011.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Robert Kalkstein</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2011-07-26</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
