<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0206</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2012-09-28</periodOfReport>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>1</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000077360</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>PENTAIR INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>PNR</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001189049</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>HOGAN RANDALL J</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>5500 WAYZATA BLVD., SUITE 800</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>GOLDEN VALLEY</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MN</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>55416</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Chairman &amp; Chief Exec. Officer</officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable></nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable></derivativeTable>

    <footnotes></footnotes>

    <remarks>Issuer Name and Ticker Symbol:
Pentair Ltd. [PNR]

This Form 3 is being filed solely to reflect the reporting person becoming a director or officer of Pentair Ltd. (&quot;the Issuer&quot;), pursuant to the Merger Agreement, dated as of March 27, 2012, as amended, among Pentair, Inc., Tyco International Ltd., the Issuer, Panthro Acquisition Co. and Panthro Merger Sub, Inc.  Upon closing of the merger, Pentair, Inc. became a wholly owned subsidiary of the Issuer, and each share of Pentair, Inc. common stock was converted into one Issuer common share.  The reporting person will file a Form 4 reflecting their acquisition of the Issuer's common shares and derivative securities relating to the Issuer's common shares as a result of the merger.</remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ John K. Wilson, Attorney-in-Fact for Randall J. Hogan</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2012-10-02</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
