-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 GI2SyQW0VLehwbqkD0Zk5XzNS1HV8xL/zm/JIrlN8O7Sq5wcNqpk4Uq+UwO/EDPf
 pl23kNpCWm2aj397XTW+jQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001179110-04-019076.txt : 20041001
<SEC-HEADER>0001179110-04-019076.hdr.sgml : 20041001
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20041001143020
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001179110-04-019076
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20041001
FILED AS OF DATE:		20041001
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20041001

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BURTON EDWIN T III
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001216193

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-13199
		FILM NUMBER:		041057989

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O SL GREEN REALTY CORP
		STREET 2:		420 LEXINGTON SUITE 1900
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10170

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SL GREEN REALTY CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001040971
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUSTS [6798]
		IRS NUMBER:				133956775
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			MD
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		420 LEXINGTON AVENUE
		STREET 2:		ATTN: STEVEN KAHN
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10170
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2125942700

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		420 LEXINGTON AVENUE
		STREET 2:		ATTN: STEVEN KAHN
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10170
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4 -
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-10-01</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001040971</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>SL GREEN REALTY CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>SLG</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001216193</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>BURTON EDWIN T III</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O 420 LEXINGTON AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10024</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable></nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Phantom Stock Units</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-10-01</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>214.726</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>51.81</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>214.726</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>388.337</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The phantom stock units become payable in common stock (or in certain cases in cash) upon (unless the reporting person elects otherwise in accordance with the documents governing the applicable program) the earlier of (i) the January 1 coincident with or next following the earlier of (A) the reporting person's ceasing to be a director, and (B) the reporting person's death, and (ii) a change of control of the the Company (as determined under such governing documents).  In addition, the reporting person may be permitted to elect to receive distributions (i) for certain unforeseeable emergencies and (ii) in the form of installment payments.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">1-for-1.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Edwin T. Burton, by Andrew Levine, attorney-in-fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-10-01</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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