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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001232704-06-000002.txt : 20060217
<SEC-HEADER>0001232704-06-000002.hdr.sgml : 20060217
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20060217104056
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001232704-06-000002
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20060215
FILED AS OF DATE:		20060217
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20060217

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			EXPEDITORS INTERNATIONAL OF WASHINGTON INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000746515
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	ARRANGEMENT OF TRANSPORTATION OF FREIGHT & CARGO [4731]
		IRS NUMBER:				911069248
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			WA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1015 THIRD AVENUE 12TH FLOOR
		CITY:			SEATTLE
		STATE:			WA
		ZIP:			98104
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2066743400

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1015 THIRD AVENUE 12TH FLOOR
		CITY:			SEATTLE
		STATE:			WA
		ZIP:			98104

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ALGER GLENN M
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001232704

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-13468
		FILM NUMBER:		06627530

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1015 THIRD AVENUE 12TH FLOOR
		CITY:			SEATTLE
		STATE:			WA
		ZIP:			98104
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>c0001232704d20060217f4f.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2006-02-15</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000746515</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>EXPEDITORS INTERNATIONAL OF WASHINGTON INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>EXPD</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001232704</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>ALGER GLENN M</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1015 THIRD AVENUE, 12TH FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SEATTLE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>WA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>98104</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>President and COO</officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2006-02-15</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>159798</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>75.3905</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>713146.69</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable></derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">This represents an aggregate number of shares sold at an average price.  Full trade details are broken down, as follows:

253 at $76.40
6,798 at $76.33
1,234 at $76.08
2,100 at $76.07
3,700 at $76.05
5,000 at $76.00
2,300 at $75.92
800 at $75.91
2,900 at $75.90
3,400 at $75.88
8,100 at $75.80
10,803 at $75.75
7,000 at $75.72
2,000 at $75.71
2,346 at $75.70
1,417 at $75.69
3,400 at $75.62
100 at $75.56
6 at $75.5500
394 at $75.54
1,600 at $75.53
1,200 at $75.50
500 at $75.49
6,281 at $75.48
1,919 at $75.47
600 at $75.42
5,888 at $75.41
5,100 at $75.40
600 at $75.38
1,344 at $75.37
400 at $75.36
1,068 at $75.34
200 at $75.31
600 at $75.29
754 at $75.28
5,000 at $75.25
2,000 at $75.19
1,200 at $75.16
828 at $75.15
1,008 at $75.13
787 at $75.09
413 at $75.08
3,788 at $75.04
3,200 at $75.03
1,812 at $74.95
5,000 at $74.94
4,200 at $74.92
6,100 at $74.90
503 at $74.88
1,564 at $74.87
300 at $74.85
200 at $74.81
11,320 at $74.80
100 at $74.78
5,100 at $74.77
8,344 at $74.76
4,926 at $74.75</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Includes 529.094 shares acquired from Expeditors International of Washington, Inc.'s 2002 Employee Stock Purchase Plan on July 29, 2005.

Includes 4.956 shares acquired on June 15, 2005 pursuant to the reinvestment of a dividend under Expeditors 2002 Employee Stock Purchase Plan.

Includes 4.713 shares acquired on December 15, 2005 pursuant to the reinvestment of a dividend under Expeditors 2002 Employee Stock Purchase Plan.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Glenn M Alger</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2006-02-17</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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