-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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 L/gTfv8IGaNJ/QzdziwTGg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001315406-05-000055.txt : 20051109
<SEC-HEADER>0001315406-05-000055.hdr.sgml : 20051109
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20051109133014
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001315406-05-000055
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20051107
FILED AS OF DATE:		20051109
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20051109

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BIO RAD LABORATORIES INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000012208
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	LABORATORY ANALYTICAL INSTRUMENTS [3826]
		IRS NUMBER:				941381833
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1000 ALFRED NOBEL DR
		CITY:			HERCULES
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94547
		BUSINESS PHONE:		5107247000

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BENNETT JAMES
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001248080

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-07928
		FILM NUMBER:		051188994

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1000 ALFRED NOBEL DRIVE
		CITY:			HERCULES
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94547
		BUSINESS PHONE:		5107416142
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgardoc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2005-11-07</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000012208</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>BIO RAD LABORATORIES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>BIO</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001248080</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>BENNETT JAMES</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>645 SKY RANCH COURT</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>LAFAYETTE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>94549</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Bio-Rad A Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-11-07</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>20000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>59.7817</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>30566</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Bio-Rad B Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>47454</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Incentive Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>28.61</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2003-02-06</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2012-02-06</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Bio-Rad A Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>6000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>6000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
    </derivativeTable>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>James Bennett</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-11-08</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----