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

    <schemaVersion>X0205</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2012-04-19</periodOfReport>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000075829</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>PALL CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>PLL</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001358419</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>CHANDY RUBY R</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O PALL CORPORATION</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>25 HARBOR PARK DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>PORT WASHINGTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>11050</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Group VP, Pres. Industrial</officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Employee Stock Options (Rights to Buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>57.78</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2013-04-11</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2019-04-11</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>3417</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Employee Stock Options (Rights to Buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>57.78</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2014-04-11</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2019-04-11</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>3418</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Employee Stock Options (Rights to Buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>57.78</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2015-04-11</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2019-04-11</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>3417</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Employee Stock Options (Rights to Buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>57.78</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2016-04-11</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2019-04-11</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>3418</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Restricted Stock Units</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2016-04-11</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2016-04-11</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>3858.157</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Restricted Stock Units</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2014-04-11</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2014-04-11</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>3429.473</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The Units will vest and become convertible into shares of Common Stock of the Issuer on a one-for-one basis on the date shown in column 2, provided the Reporting Person is still employed by the Issuer or a subsidiary on that date. If employment terminates sooner, the Units will be forfeited unless termination of employment occurs because of death, disability, retirement or an involuntary termination within twenty-four months following a change in control of the Issuer, in any of which events the Units may vest in whole or in part.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks>Exhibit 24 - Power of Attorney</remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Cherita Thomas as Attorney-in-Fact for Ruby R. Chandy</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2012-04-30</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
