<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
<periodOfReport>2003-09-25</periodOfReport>
<notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000025212</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>COURIER CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>CRRC</issuerTradingSymbol>
</issuer>
<reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001183621</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>FOLGER PETER M</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>15 WELLMAN AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NORTH CHELMSFORD</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>01863</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>0</isDirector>
<isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
<isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
<isOther>0</isOther>
<officerTitle>Vice President and Controller</officerTitle>
<otherText></otherText>
</reportingOwnerRelationship>
</reportingOwner>
<nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Common stock</value>
</securityTitle>
<postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>19245</value>
</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
</postTransactionAmounts>
<ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value>
</directOrIndirectOwnership>
</ownershipNature>
</nonDerivativeHolding>
<nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Common stock</value>
</securityTitle>
<postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>1784</value>
<footnoteId id="F3"></footnoteId>
</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
</postTransactionAmounts>
<ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value>
</directOrIndirectOwnership>
<natureOfOwnership><value>By ESOP Trust</value>
</natureOfOwnership>
</ownershipNature>
</nonDerivativeHolding>
</nonDerivativeTable>
<derivativeTable><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Option (right to buy)</value>
</securityTitle>
<conversionOrExercisePrice><value>52.36</value>
</conversionOrExercisePrice>
<transactionDate><value>2003-09-25</value>
</transactionDate>
<transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
<transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
</transactionCoding>
<transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>2250</value>
</transactionShares>
<transactionPricePerShare><value>0</value>
<footnoteId id="F2"></footnoteId>
</transactionPricePerShare>
<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value>
</transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
</transactionAmounts>
<exerciseDate><value>2004-09-25</value>
<footnoteId id="F1"></footnoteId>
</exerciseDate>
<expirationDate><value>2010-09-25</value>
</expirationDate>
<underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common stock</value>
</underlyingSecurityTitle>
<underlyingSecurityShares><value>2250</value>
</underlyingSecurityShares>
</underlyingSecurity>
<postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>2250</value>
</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
</postTransactionAmounts>
<ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value>
</directOrIndirectOwnership>
</ownershipNature>
</derivativeTransaction>
</derivativeTable>
<footnotes><footnote id="F1">750 shares vest on 9/25/04; 750 shares vest on 9/25/05; and 750 shares vest on 9/25/06</footnote>
<footnote id="F2">Stock option granted pursuant to the Courier Corporation Stock Incentive Plan.</footnote>
<footnote id="F3">Includes 16 shares allocated to ESOP account pursuant to Courier Corporation Employee Stock Ownership Plan as of 9/24/03</footnote>
</footnotes>
<ownerSignature><signatureName>s/Peter M. Folger</signatureName>
<signatureDate>2003-09-24</signatureDate>
</ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

