<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion>

<documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-05-02</periodOfReport>
<issuer><issuerCik>0000103973</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>VULCAN MATERIALS CO</issuerName>
<issuerTradingSymbol>VMC</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId><rptOwnerCik>0001204572</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>KHAN EJAZ A</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
<reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>0</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>VP, Controller</officerTitle></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><derivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Phantom Stock (Deferred Compensation)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>0</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-05-02</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>33</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>35.24</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>1988-08-08</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>1988-08-08</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>33</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>3398</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeSecurity><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Convertible on a 1-for-1 basis.</footnote><footnote id="F2">The units are to be settled in Vulcan common stock commencing at the retirement of the reporting person.</footnote></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>Amy M. Tucker, attorney-in-fact for Ejaz A. Khan</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-05-06</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>
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X0101
4
2003-05-02
0000103973
VULCAN MATERIALS CO
VMC
0001204572
KHAN EJAZ A
0
1
0
0
VP, Controller
Phantom Stock (Deferred Compensation)
0
2003-05-02
4
A
0
33
35.24
A
1988-08-08
1988-08-08
Common Stock
33
3398
D
Convertible on a 1-for-1 basis.
The units are to be settled in Vulcan common stock commencing at the retirement of the reporting person.
Amy M. Tucker, attorney-in-fact for Ejaz A. Khan
2003-05-06