<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-06-02</periodOfReport><notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <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><otherText></otherText></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><derivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Performance Share Units</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>0</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-06-02</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>2800</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>37.305</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>2006-01-01</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>1988-08-08</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>2800</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>2800</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeSecurity><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Performance Share Units vest at January 1 following a three-year award period.  At the end of the award period, the Compensation Committee determines the payment amount based on Company performance.  The payment is made 50% in stock and 50% in cash on a payment date determined by the Compensation Committee.  The fair market value of the award is not determinable until the payment date.

Mr. Khan also holds 3,373 phantom shares under the Vulcan Materials Company Executive Deferred Compensation Plan.</footnote></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>Amy M. Tucker</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-06-04</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>
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X0101
4
2003-06-02
0
0000103973
VULCAN MATERIALS CO
VMC
0001204572
KHAN EJAZ A
0
1
0
0
VP CONTROLLER
Performance Share Units
0
2003-06-02
4
A
0
2800
37.305
A
2006-01-01
1988-08-08
Common Stock
2800
2800
D
Performance Share Units vest at January 1 following a three-year award period.  At the end of the award period, the Compensation Committee determines the payment amount based on Company performance.  The payment is made 50% in stock and 50% in cash on a payment date determined by the Compensation Committee.  The fair market value of the award is not determinable until the payment date.

Mr. Khan also holds 3,373 phantom shares under the Vulcan Materials Company Executive Deferred Compensation Plan.
Amy M. Tucker
2003-06-04