<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
<periodOfReport>2003-10-31</periodOfReport>
<notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000877212</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ZEBRA TECHNOLOGIES CORP/DE</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>zbra</issuerTradingSymbol>
</issuer>
<reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001201205</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>WHITCHURCH CHARLES R</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>333 CORPORATE WOODS PARKWAY</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>VERNON HILLS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>IL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>60061</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>0</isDirector>
<isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
<isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
<isOther>0</isOther>
<officerTitle>CFO and Treasurer</officerTitle>
<otherText></otherText>
</reportingOwnerRelationship>
</reportingOwner>
<nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Class A Common Stock</value>
</securityTitle>
<transactionDate><value>2003-10-31</value>
</transactionDate>
<transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
<transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
</transactionCoding>
<transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>8000</value>
</transactionShares>
<transactionPricePerShare><value>17.71</value>
</transactionPricePerShare>
<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value>
</transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
</transactionAmounts>
<postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>10509</value>
</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
</postTransactionAmounts>
<ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value>
</directOrIndirectOwnership>
</ownershipNature>
</nonDerivativeTransaction>
<nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Class A Common Stock</value>
</securityTitle>
<transactionDate><value>2003-10-31</value>
</transactionDate>
<transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
<transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
</transactionCoding>
<transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>500</value>
</transactionShares>
<transactionPricePerShare><value>58.03</value>
</transactionPricePerShare>
<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value>
</transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
</transactionAmounts>
<postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>10509</value>
</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
</postTransactionAmounts>
<ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value>
</directOrIndirectOwnership>
</ownershipNature>
</nonDerivativeTransaction>
<nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Class A Common Stock</value>
</securityTitle>
<transactionDate><value>2003-10-31</value>
</transactionDate>
<transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
<transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
</transactionCoding>
<transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>1000</value>
</transactionShares>
<transactionPricePerShare><value>58.02</value>
</transactionPricePerShare>
<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value>
</transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
</transactionAmounts>
<postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>10509</value>
</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
</postTransactionAmounts>
<ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value>
</directOrIndirectOwnership>
</ownershipNature>
</nonDerivativeTransaction>
<nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Class A Common Stock</value>
</securityTitle>
<transactionDate><value>2003-10-31</value>
</transactionDate>
<transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
<transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
</transactionCoding>
<transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>1100</value>
</transactionShares>
<transactionPricePerShare><value>58.01</value>
</transactionPricePerShare>
<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value>
</transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
</transactionAmounts>
<postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>10509</value>
</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
</postTransactionAmounts>
<ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value>
</directOrIndirectOwnership>
</ownershipNature>
</nonDerivativeTransaction>
<nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Class A Common Stock</value>
</securityTitle>
<transactionDate><value>2003-10-31</value>
</transactionDate>
<transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
<transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
</transactionCoding>
<transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>5400</value>
</transactionShares>
<transactionPricePerShare><value>58.00</value>
</transactionPricePerShare>
<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value>
</transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
</transactionAmounts>
<postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>10509</value>
</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
</postTransactionAmounts>
<ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value>
</directOrIndirectOwnership>
</ownershipNature>
</nonDerivativeTransaction>
</nonDerivativeTable>
<derivativeTable><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Employee Stock Option</value>
</securityTitle>
<conversionOrExercisePrice><value>17.71</value>
</conversionOrExercisePrice>
<transactionDate><value>2003-10-31</value>
</transactionDate>
<transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
<transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
</transactionCoding>
<transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>8000</value>
</transactionShares>
<transactionPricePerShare><value>0</value>
</transactionPricePerShare>
<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value>
</transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
</transactionAmounts>
<exerciseDate><footnoteId id="F1"></footnoteId>
</exerciseDate>
<expirationDate><value>2009-03-02</value>
</expirationDate>
<underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Class A Common Stock</value>
</underlyingSecurityTitle>
<underlyingSecurityShares><value>30000</value>
</underlyingSecurityShares>
</underlyingSecurity>
<postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>20300</value>
</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
</postTransactionAmounts>
<ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value>
</directOrIndirectOwnership>
</ownershipNature>
</derivativeTransaction>
<derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Employee Stock Option</value>
</securityTitle>
<conversionOrExercisePrice><value>27.25</value>
</conversionOrExercisePrice>
<exerciseDate><footnoteId id="F2"></footnoteId>
</exerciseDate>
<expirationDate><value>2011-02-14</value>
</expirationDate>
<underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Class A Common Stock</value>
</underlyingSecurityTitle>
<underlyingSecurityShares><value>7500</value>
</underlyingSecurityShares>
</underlyingSecurity>
<postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>7500</value>
</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
</postTransactionAmounts>
<ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value>
</directOrIndirectOwnership>
</ownershipNature>
</derivativeHolding>
<derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Employee Stock Option</value>
</securityTitle>
<conversionOrExercisePrice><value>32.43</value>
</conversionOrExercisePrice>
<exerciseDate><footnoteId id="F3"></footnoteId>
</exerciseDate>
<expirationDate><value>2012-02-08</value>
</expirationDate>
<underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Class A Common Stock</value>
</underlyingSecurityTitle>
<underlyingSecurityShares><value>37500</value>
</underlyingSecurityShares>
</underlyingSecurity>
<postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>37500</value>
</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
</postTransactionAmounts>
<ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value>
</directOrIndirectOwnership>
</ownershipNature>
</derivativeHolding>
<derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Employee Stock Option</value>
</securityTitle>
<conversionOrExercisePrice><value>37.84</value>
</conversionOrExercisePrice>
<exerciseDate><footnoteId id="F4"></footnoteId>
</exerciseDate>
<expirationDate><value>2013-02-11</value>
</expirationDate>
<underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Class A Common Stock</value>
</underlyingSecurityTitle>
<underlyingSecurityShares><value>10500</value>
</underlyingSecurityShares>
</underlyingSecurity>
<postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>10500</value>
</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
</postTransactionAmounts>
<ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value>
</directOrIndirectOwnership>
</ownershipNature>
</derivativeHolding>
</derivativeTable>
<footnotes><footnote id="F1">Of such options, 6,600 vested on March 2, 2000, 7,200 vested on March 2, 2001, 4,800 vested on March 2, 2002, 5,400 vested on March 2, 2003 and 6,000 vest on March 2, 2004.</footnote>
<footnote id="F2">Of such options, 1,125 vested on February 14, 2001, 1,312.5 vested on February 14, 2002, 1,500 vested on February 14, 2003, 1,687.5 vest on February 14, 2004 and 1,875 vest on February 14, 2005.</footnote>
<footnote id="F3">Of such options, 5,625 vested on February 8, 2003, 6,562.5 vest on February 8, 2004, 7,500 vest on Febuary 8, 2005, 8,437.5 vest on Febuary 8, 2006 and 9,375 vest on February 8, 2007.</footnote>
<footnote id="F4">Of such options, 1,575 vest on February 11, 2004, 1,837.5 vest on Febuary 11, 2005, 2,100 vest on Febuary 11, 2006, 2,362.5 vest on Febuary 11, 2007 and 2,625 vest on February 11, 2008.</footnote>
</footnotes>
<ownerSignature><signatureName>Noel Elfant, Attorney-in-Fact</signatureName>
<signatureDate>2003-11-04</signatureDate>
</ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

