-----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,
 H/Gex+ckkNifsVm/d4CL+ik1OEkuQ+N6qcR1HkGiXxial+ixDyY2zE1IBpVWUZ+a
 iqMQ80/6VktjVczA0uX0wQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000058492-04-000050.txt : 20040126
<SEC-HEADER>0000058492-04-000050.hdr.sgml : 20040126
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040126175342
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000058492-04-000050
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040123
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040126

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			JETT ERNES C
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001166172

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-07845
		FILM NUMBER:		04544264

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		NO 1 LEGGETT RD
		CITY:			CARTHAGE
		STATE:			MO
		ZIP:			64836
		BUSINESS PHONE:		417 358 8131

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			LEGGETT & PLATT INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000058492
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	HOUSEHOLD FURNITURE [2510]
		IRS NUMBER:				440324630
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			MO
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		NO. 1 LEGGETT ROAD
		CITY:			CARTHAGE
		STATE:			MO
		ZIP:			64836
		BUSINESS PHONE:		(417) 358-8131

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		NO. 1 LEGGETT ROAD
		CITY:			CARTHAGE
		STATE:			MO
		ZIP:			64836
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>c0001166172d20040126f4f.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-01-23</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000058492</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>LEGGETT &amp; PLATT INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>LEG</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001166172</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>JETT ERNES C</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>NO 1 LEGGETT ROAD</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>CARTHAGE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MO</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>64836</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Vice President, General Counse</officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-01-23</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>60</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>19.25</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>68528</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>49045</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>Held in Trust under Issuer's Retirement Plan</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable></derivativeTable>

    <footnotes></footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>John A. Lyckman</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-01-26</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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