-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 G+MQ76N+ylrt6xKfrCcqf/dOxkCz9ZgyHPOdmtxZFvvw9z9Dk1/vHxi6c6JEeCoX
 9/pJ+zGIkla4sq8qGPph6A==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001181431-03-009559.txt : 20030602
<SEC-HEADER>0001181431-03-009559.hdr.sgml : 20030602
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030602143917
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001181431-03-009559
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030601
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030602

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MCCARTER JOHN W JR
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001194173

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-05684
		FILM NUMBER:		03727863

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		100 GRAINGER PARKWAY
		CITY:			LAKE FOREST
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60045

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			GRAINGER W W INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000277135
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	WHOLESALE-DURABLE GOODS [5000]
		IRS NUMBER:				361150280
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			IL
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		100 GRAINGER PARKWAY
		CITY:			LAKE FOREST
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60045-5201
		BUSINESS PHONE:		847-535-1000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		100 GRAINGER PARKWAY
		CITY:			LAKE FOREST
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60045
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>rrd10217.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
<periodOfReport>2003-06-01</periodOfReport>
<notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000277135</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>GRAINGER W W INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>GWW</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer>
<reportingOwner>
<reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001194173</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>MCCARTER JOHN W JR</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>1</isDirector>
<isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
<isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
<isOther>0</isOther>
<officerTitle></officerTitle>
<otherText></otherText></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner>
<derivativeSecurity>
<securityTitle>
<value>Stock Units</value></securityTitle>
<conversionOrExercisePrice>
<value>0</value>
<footnoteId id="F1"/></conversionOrExercisePrice>
<transactionDate>
<value>2003-06-01</value></transactionDate>
<transactionCoding>
<transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
<transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding>
<transactionAmounts>
<transactionShares>
<value>17</value></transactionShares>
<transactionValue>
<value>46.70</value></transactionValue>
<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
<value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts>
<exerciseDate>
<value>1988-08-08</value>
<footnoteId id="F2"/></exerciseDate>
<expirationDate>
<value>1988-08-08</value>
<footnoteId id="F2"/></expirationDate>
<underlyingSecurity>
<underlyingSecurityTitle>
<value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle>
<underlyingSecurityShares>
<value>17</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity>
<postTransactionAmounts>
<sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
<value>4123</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts>
<ownershipNature>
<directOrIndirectOwnership>
<value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership>
<natureOfOwnership>
<value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeSecurity>
<footnotes>
<footnote id="F1">1-for-1</footnote>
<footnote id="F2">The Stock Units are expected to settle in cash following termination of service as a director.  Pending modification of the electronic filing system applicable to these reports, the Securities and Exchange Commission has designated 08/08/1988 as the Stock Unit exercise and expiration dates.</footnote></footnotes>
<ownerSignature>
<signatureName>K. S. Kirsner, as attorney-in-fact</signatureName>
<signatureDate>2003-06-02</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>


</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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