Exhibit 5
                                                                   Exhibit 23(b)

                         May 9, 2001

Leggett & Platt, Incorporated
No. 1--Leggett Road
Carthage, MO  64836

          Re:  Leggett & Platt, Incorporated 1989 Flexible Stock Plan
               Form S-8 Registration Statement
               Our File No.:  3-19-20

Gentlemen:

     As Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary of Leggett & Platt,
Incorporated (the "Company"), I have acted on its behalf in connection with the
preparation and filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission of a
Registration Statement on Form S-8 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended
(the "Registration Statement") relating to 4,000,000 shares of the Company's
Common Stock, $.01 par value (the "Shares"), and the Preferred Stock Purchase
Rights (the "Rights") attached to the Shares, to be issued in accordance with
the terms of the 1989 Discount Stock Plan (the "Plan").

     In this connection, I have examined the following documents:

     (i)       Copy of the Restated Articles of Incorporation of the Company;

     (ii)      Copies of the Bylaws of the Company, as amended to date;

     (iii)     Minutes of the meetings of the Board of Directors and
               Shareholders of the Company;

     (iv)      Copy of the Plan as amended through May 14, 1997;

     (v)       The Registration Statement and all exhibits thereto.

     I have also examined such other documents as I deemed necessary to the
expression of the opinion contained herein.


     Based upon the foregoing, I am of the opinion that:

     (1)  The Company has been duly organized, validly existing and in good
          standing under the laws of the State of Missouri.

     (2)  The Company has an authorized capitalization as set forth in the
          Registration Statement;

     (3)  The Plan has been duly created and adopted by the Board of Directors
          of the Company and has been duly approved by the Shareholders of the
          Company and is a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Company
          enforceable in accordance with its terms;

     (4)  The issuance of Shares pursuant to the Plan has been duly and validly
          authorized by the necessary corporate action; and

     (5)  The Shares when issued in accordance with the terms of the Plan will
          be validly issued, fully paid and assessable.

     I hereby consent to the use of my name in the Registration Statement and in
the related Prospectus and to the use of this opinion as Exhibit 5 to the
Registration Statement.

                         Sincerely,

                         LEGGETT & PLATT, INCORPORATED

                         /s/ ERNEST C. JETT

                         Ernest C. Jett
                         Vice President, General Counsel & Secretary

ECJ/slk