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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001179110-05-008052.txt : 20050422
<SEC-HEADER>0001179110-05-008052.hdr.sgml : 20050422
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20050422173451
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001179110-05-008052
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20050421
FILED AS OF DATE:		20050422
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20050422

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

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Larkin Wayne W
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001324685

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-14543
		FILM NUMBER:		05768340

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		800-610-8920

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1015 A STREET
		STREET 2:		P.O. BOX 2910
		CITY:			TACOMA
		STATE:			WA
		ZIP:			98402-5113
</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>2005-04-21</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001324685</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Larkin Wayne W</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1015 A STREET</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>P.O. BOX 2910</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>TACOMA</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>WA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>98402-5113</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Regional V.P. of Operations</officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-04-21</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>6000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>17.53</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>7797</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable></derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">As of April 20, 2005, Mr. Larkin also indirectly owned 491 Labor Ready Stock Units (Labor Ready 401(k) Plan).  Each Unit consists of Labor Ready common stock and a cash component.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Matthew S. Topham, Attorney-in-fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-04-22</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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