<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>
<periodOfReport>2003-11-01</periodOfReport>
    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001166036</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>MARKWEST ENERGY PARTNERS L P</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>MWE</issuerTradingSymbol>
</issuer>
<reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001270065</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>SEMPLE FRANK M</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O MARKWEST ENERGY PARTNERS, L.P.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>155 INVERNESS DRIVE WEST, STE 200</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>ENGELWOOD</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CO</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>80112</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>1</isDirector>
<isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
<isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
<isOther>0</isOther>
<officerTitle>President</officerTitle>
<otherText></otherText>
</reportingOwnerRelationship>
</reportingOwner>
<nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>NO SECURITIES OWNED</value>
</securityTitle>
<postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>0</value>
</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
</postTransactionAmounts>
<ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value>
</directOrIndirectOwnership>
</ownershipNature>
</nonDerivativeHolding>
</nonDerivativeTable>
<derivativeTable></derivativeTable>
<footnotes></footnotes>
<ownerSignature><signatureName>Lucy Woods POA for Frank M. Semple</signatureName>
<signatureDate>2003-11-17</signatureDate>
</ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

