-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 KN3i7U4oQI4sPxUi2z1ZwMeglhU/3oOHvun1GE8QmMIPzvFfCZamWX5xSQX+YPop
 xF+0+kOMoSZVec0p0gOZCA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001179110-04-024104.txt : 20041227
<SEC-HEADER>0001179110-04-024104.hdr.sgml : 20041224
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20041227145441
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001179110-04-024104
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20041223
FILED AS OF DATE:		20041227
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20041227

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			NORTH GARY WILLIAM
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001279870

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-14543
		FILM NUMBER:		041226263

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O LABOR READY INC
		STREET 2:		1015 A STREET P O BOX 2910
		CITY:			TACOMA
		STATE:			WA
		ZIP:			98401-2910

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			LABOR READY INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000768899
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SERVICES-HELP SUPPLY SERVICES [7363]
		IRS NUMBER:				911287341
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			WA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1015 A STREET
		CITY:			TACOMA
		STATE:			WA
		ZIP:			98402
		BUSINESS PHONE:		253-383-9101

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1015 A ST.
		CITY:			TACOMA
		STATE:			WA
		ZIP:			98402

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	DICKS HAMBURGERS INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19900329
</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>2004-12-23</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000768899</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>LABOR READY INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>LRW</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001279870</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>NORTH GARY WILLIAM</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1015 A. STREET</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>P.O. BOX 2910</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>TACOMA</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>WA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>98401</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Vice President</officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-12-23</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>100</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>4.813</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>21626</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-12-23</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>100</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>17.00</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>21526</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Options (Right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>4.813</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-12-23</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>100</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>4.813</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2001-08-01</value>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2005-08-01</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>100</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Sales effected pursuant to preplanned trading program designed to meet the requirements of Rule 10b5-1.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">As of December 15, 2004, Mr. North also indirectly owned 888 Labor Ready Stock Units (Labor Ready 401(k) Plan).  Each Unit consists of Labor Ready common stock and a cash component.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Options subject to this grant vest over a 4 year period in equal annual installments.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Matthew S. Topham, Attorney-in-Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-12-27</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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