-----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,
 PbYPxnOz16yJhmmWSi/8ZTlCw0zygFSMa/154n5u4mt5gNiGtmf0PzHYDQxVSPZ3
 CGWjA77UFODW1LtLof/isw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001179110-03-005754.txt : 20030815
<SEC-HEADER>0001179110-03-005754.hdr.sgml : 20030815
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030815160750
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001179110-03-005754
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030813
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030815

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ECOLAB INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000031462
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SOAP, DETERGENT, CLEANING PREPARATIONS, PERFUMES, COSMETICS [2840]
		IRS NUMBER:				410231510
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ECOLAB CTR
		STREET 2:		370 WABASHA ST NORTH
		CITY:			ST PAUL
		STATE:			MN
		ZIP:			55102
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6512932233

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		370 WABASHA ST NORTH
		CITY:			ST. PAUL
		STATE:			MN
		ZIP:			55102

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	ECONOMICS LABORATORY INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19861203

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SPOONER JOHN P
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001198773

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-09328
		FILM NUMBER:		03850879

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		370 WABASHA ST NORTH
		CITY:			ST PAUL
		STATE:			MN
		ZIP:			55102
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6512932051

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		370 WBASHA ST NORTH
		CITY:			ST PAUL
		STATE:			MN
		ZIP:			55102
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4 -
<TEXT>
<XML>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
<periodOfReport>2003-08-13</periodOfReport>
<notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000031462</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ECOLAB INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>ECL</issuerTradingSymbol>
</issuer>
<reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001198773</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>SPOONER JOHN P</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>ECOLAB INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>370 WABASHA STREET N.</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>ST. PAUL</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MN</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>55102</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>0</isDirector>
<isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
<isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
<isOther>0</isOther>
<officerTitle>President of International</officerTitle>
<otherText></otherText>
</reportingOwnerRelationship>
</reportingOwner>
<nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value>
</securityTitle>
<transactionDate><value>2003-08-13</value>
</transactionDate>
<transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
<transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
</transactionCoding>
<transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>815</value>
<footnoteId id="F1"></footnoteId>
</transactionShares>
<transactionPricePerShare><value>25.26</value>
</transactionPricePerShare>
<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value>
</transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
</transactionAmounts>
<postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>40441</value>
</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
</postTransactionAmounts>
<ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value>
</directOrIndirectOwnership>
</ownershipNature>
</nonDerivativeTransaction>
<nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value>
</securityTitle>
<postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>2456.567</value>
<footnoteId id="F2"></footnoteId>
</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
</postTransactionAmounts>
<ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value>
</directOrIndirectOwnership>
<natureOfOwnership><value>By Ecolab Savings Plan</value>
</natureOfOwnership>
</ownershipNature>
</nonDerivativeHolding>
</nonDerivativeTable>
<derivativeTable></derivativeTable>
<footnotes><footnote id="F1">Reflects the reporting person's withholding of shares from the vesting of a restricted stock award to satisfy withholding taxes in accordance with Rule 16b-3.</footnote>
<footnote id="F2">Number of UNITS owned by the reporting person in the Ecolab Stock Fund of the Ecolab Savings Plan (401(k) Plan) as of July 31, 2003.  Includes 7.078 UNITS acquired since the reporting person's last report. (The 2,456.567 UNITS are the equivalent of approximately 4,613.89 SHARES of the issuer's Common Stock.)</footnote>
</footnotes>
<ownerSignature><signatureName>/s/David F. Duvick, as Attorney-in-Fact for John P. Spooner</signatureName>
<signatureDate>2003-08-15</signatureDate>
</ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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