-----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,
 ULEB51l4Dh093ZRoB1EUQ+sYnN2MqG+mkZPQ2UTMBlknIQRP1xxODfTrbXDL7Lh1
 xiMGKM+aH/NqAxgU4EmK5w==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001179110-04-001175.txt : 20040114
<SEC-HEADER>0001179110-04-001175.hdr.sgml : 20040114
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040114122550
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001179110-04-001175
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	3
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040105
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040114

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			HANDLEY THOMAS W
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001275967

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		3
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-09328
		FILM NUMBER:		04524372

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

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
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>3
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 3 -
<TEXT>
<XML>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>
<periodOfReport>2004-01-05</periodOfReport>
    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000031462</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ECOLAB INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>ECL</issuerTradingSymbol>
</issuer>
<reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001275967</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>HANDLEY THOMAS W</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>Executive VP- Specialty Sector</officerTitle>
<otherText></otherText>
</reportingOwnerRelationship>
</reportingOwner>
<nonDerivativeTable></nonDerivativeTable>
<derivativeTable><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Employee Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value>
</securityTitle>
<conversionOrExercisePrice><value>25.49</value>
</conversionOrExercisePrice>
<exerciseDate><value>2004-08-15</value>
<footnoteId id="F1"></footnoteId>
</exerciseDate>
<expirationDate><value>2013-08-15</value>
</expirationDate>
<underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value>
</underlyingSecurityTitle>
<underlyingSecurityShares><value>70000</value>
</underlyingSecurityShares>
</underlyingSecurity>
<ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value>
</directOrIndirectOwnership>
</ownershipNature>
</derivativeHolding>
</derivativeTable>
<footnotes><footnote id="F1">Option granted under the Ecolab Inc. 2002 Stock Incentive Plan on August 14, 2003.  The option will be exercisable, on a cumulative basis, as to one-third of the option shares (excluding any fractional portion less than one share), on each of the first and second anniversaries of the date of grant and as to the remaining option shares on the third anniversary of the date of grant; provided, however, that if a Change in Control (as that term is defined in the 2002 Plan) of the Company occurs, then the option, if it has been outstanding for at least six months from the date of grant, will become immediately exercisable in full.</footnote>
</footnotes>
<ownerSignature><signatureName>/s/Thomas W. Handley</signatureName>
<signatureDate>2004-01-13</signatureDate>
</ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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