-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 PFlbf4TOMYmypbF7HN3EvTdRyMtZNKxqXCDjBgIrXHYPeL3QKVNXzqTDTw42NsLw
 HL/0dSr/bBEsgcs3B9R9OA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001179110-04-019356.txt : 20041005
<SEC-HEADER>0001179110-04-019356.hdr.sgml : 20041005
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20041005085728
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001179110-04-019356
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20041001
FILED AS OF DATE:		20041005
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20041005

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			APPEL PETER A
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001227104

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-16209
		FILM NUMBER:		041064322

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O ARCH CAPITAL HOLDINGS LTD
		STREET 2:		20 HORSENECK LANE
		CITY:			GREENWICH
		STATE:			CT
		ZIP:			06830

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ARCH CAPITAL GROUP LTD
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000947484
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	FIRE, MARINE & CASUALTY INSURANCE [6331]
		IRS NUMBER:				061424716
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		20 HORSENECK LANE
		CITY:			GREENWICH
		STATE:			CT
		ZIP:			06830
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2038624300

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		20 HORSENECK LANE
		CITY:			GREENWICH
		STATE:			CT
		ZIP:			06830

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	RISK CAPITAL HOLDINGS INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19950816

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	RISK CAPITAL RE INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19950703
</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>0000947484</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ARCH CAPITAL GROUP LTD</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>ACGL</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001227104</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>APPEL PETER A</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O ARCH CAPITAL GROUP LTD.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>45 REID STREET, 3RD FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>HAMILTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>D0</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>HM 12</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription>BERMUDA</rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Shares, $.01 par value per share</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-10-01</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>939</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>148825</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Shares, $.01 par value per share</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-10-01</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>522</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>149347</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable></derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Represents shares granted as part of the director-elected annual retainer for serving as a director of the Issuer.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Subject to the terms of the restricted share agreement, this represents restricted shares that will vest on September 30, 2005.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Peter A. Appel</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-10-04</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----