-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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 VNfc0bQp0mipaN4dRE/fRA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000015840-04-000006.txt : 20040109
<SEC-HEADER>0000015840-04-000006.hdr.sgml : 20040109
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040109155537
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000015840-04-000006
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040108
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040109

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BUTLER MANUFACTURING CO
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000015840
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	PREFABRICATED METAL BUILDINGS & COMPONENTS [3448]
		IRS NUMBER:				440188420
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1540 GENESSEE STREET
		STREET 2:		P O BOX 419917
		CITY:			KANSAS CITY
		STATE:			MO
		ZIP:			64141-6917
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8169683000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1540 GENESSEE STREET
		STREET 2:		P O BOX 419917
		CITY:			KANSAS CITY
		STATE:			MO
		ZIP:			64141-6917

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			TAPELLA GARY L
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001211609

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-12335
		FILM NUMBER:		04518017

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O BUTLER MANUFACTURING CO
		STREET 2:		1540 GENESSEE ST
		CITY:			KANSAS CITY
		STATE:			MO
		ZIP:			64102
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8169683000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		BUTLER MANUFACTURING CO
		STREET 2:		1540 GENESSEE ST
		CITY:			KANSAS CITY
		STATE:			MO
		ZIP:			64102
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgardoc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-01-08</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000015840</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>BUTLER MANUFACTURING CO</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>BBR</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001211609</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>TAPELLA GARY L</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O RHEEM MANUFACTURING COMPANY</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>405 LEXINGTON AVENUE, 22ND FL.</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10174</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>

        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-01-08</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>231.91</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>21.56</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>3439.08</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>

    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>

        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>27.56</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2002-10-18</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2012-04-16</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>4000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>4000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>

        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Phantom Stock Units</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>0</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2003-06-01</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2050-01-01</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>2280.59</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2280.59</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>

    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The units are to be settled in Butler Common Stock (except for fractional shares to be paid in cash) following termination of service, death or disability or change of control.  Units are fully vested.  Distributions may be made in a lump sum or over a period of up to ten (10) years.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>By: JOHN W. HUEY  For: GARY L. TAPELLA</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-01-09</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

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