<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>
<periodOfReport>2003-09-01</periodOfReport>
    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000038570</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ORLEANS HOMEBUILDERS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>OHB</issuerTradingSymbol>
</issuer>
<reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001273823</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>GUERNIER JEFFREY C</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O ORLEANS HOMEBUILDERS, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>ONE GREENWOOD SQUARE  3333 ST RD, # 101</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BENSALEM</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>PA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>19020</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>0</isDirector>
<isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
<isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
<isOther>0</isOther>
<officerTitle>Division Manager</officerTitle>
<otherText></otherText>
</reportingOwnerRelationship>
</reportingOwner>
<nonDerivativeTable>
<nonDerivativeHolding>
<securityTitle>
<value>Common Stock</value>
</securityTitle>
<postTransactionAmounts>
<sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
<value>20400</value>
<footnoteId id="F1"/>
</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
</postTransactionAmounts>
<ownershipNature>
<directOrIndirectOwnership>
<value>D</value>
</directOrIndirectOwnership>
<natureOfOwnership>
<value></value>
</natureOfOwnership>
</ownershipNature>
</nonDerivativeHolding>
</nonDerivativeTable>
<derivativeTable>
<derivativeHolding>
<securityTitle>
<value>Put Option-right to sell</value>
</securityTitle>
<conversionOrExercisePrice>
<value>3.33</value>
</conversionOrExercisePrice>
<exerciseDate>
<footnoteId id="F2"/>
</exerciseDate>
<expirationDate>
<footnoteId id="F2"/>
</expirationDate>
<underlyingSecurity>
<underlyingSecurityTitle>
<value>Common Stock</value>
</underlyingSecurityTitle>
<underlyingSecurityShares>
<value>9700</value>
</underlyingSecurityShares>
</underlyingSecurity>
<ownershipNature>
<directOrIndirectOwnership>
<value>D</value>
</directOrIndirectOwnership>
<natureOfOwnership>
<value></value>
</natureOfOwnership>
</ownershipNature>
</derivativeHolding>
<derivativeHolding>
<securityTitle>
<value>Put Option-right to sell</value>
</securityTitle>
<conversionOrExercisePrice>
<value>3.33</value>
</conversionOrExercisePrice>
<exerciseDate>
<value>2005-10-13</value>
</exerciseDate>
<expirationDate>
<value>2005-10-22</value>
</expirationDate>
<underlyingSecurity>
<underlyingSecurityTitle>
<value>Common Stock</value>
</underlyingSecurityTitle>
<underlyingSecurityShares>
<value>9700</value>
<footnoteId id="F3"/>
</underlyingSecurityShares>
</underlyingSecurity>
<ownershipNature>
<directOrIndirectOwnership>
<value>D</value>
</directOrIndirectOwnership>
<natureOfOwnership>
<value></value>
</natureOfOwnership>
</ownershipNature>
</derivativeHolding>
</derivativeTable>
<footnotes>
<footnote id="F1">Note 1:  4,850 of the shares are issuable to the reporting person on October 12, 2004, subject to certain conditions.</footnote>
<footnote id="F2">Note 2:  Right becomes exercisable upon receipt of notice from issuer, which shall be given at any time after July 31, 2005.  Reporting person has 30 days from receipt of notice to exercise put option.</footnote>
<footnote id="F3">Note 3;  2,425 of the put options relate to shares issuable to the reporting person on October 12, 2004.</footnote>
</footnotes>
<remarks></remarks>
<ownerSignature>
<signatureName>Jeffrey C. Guernier</signatureName>
<signatureDate>2003-12-23</signatureDate>
</ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

