<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>0001188417</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>JAMES DONALD M</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>CHMN OF BOARD &amp; CEO</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>37000</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>37000</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>37000</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. James also holds 13,980 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
0001188417
JAMES DONALD M
1
1
0
0
CHMN OF BOARD & CEO
Performance Share Units
0
2003-06-02
4
A
0
37000
37.305
A
2006-01-01
1988-08-08
Common Stock
37000
37000
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. James also holds 13,980 phantom shares under the Vulcan Materials Company Executive Deferred Compensation Plan.
Amy M. Tucker
2003-06-04