<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
<periodOfReport>2003-11-12</periodOfReport>
<notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000791348</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>LONE STAR TECHNOLOGIES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>LSS</issuerTradingSymbol>
</issuer>
<reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001122235</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>HEGI FREDERICK B JR</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>750 N. ST. PAUL, SUITE 1200</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>DALLAS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>TX</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>75201</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>1</isDirector>
<isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
<isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
<isOther>0</isOther>
<officerTitle></officerTitle>
<otherText></otherText>
</reportingOwnerRelationship>
</reportingOwner>
<nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value>
</securityTitle>
<transactionDate><value>2003-11-12</value>
</transactionDate>
<transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
<transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
<footnoteId id="F1"></footnoteId>
</transactionCoding>
<transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>13500</value>
</transactionShares>
<transactionPricePerShare><value>8.8125</value>
</transactionPricePerShare>
<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value>
</transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
</transactionAmounts>
<postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>16365</value>
</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
</postTransactionAmounts>
<ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value>
</directOrIndirectOwnership>
</ownershipNature>
</nonDerivativeTransaction>
<nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value>
</securityTitle>
<transactionDate><value>2003-11-12</value>
</transactionDate>
<transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
<transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
</transactionCoding>
<transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>6800</value>
</transactionShares>
<transactionPricePerShare><value>14.00</value>
</transactionPricePerShare>
<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value>
</transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
</transactionAmounts>
<postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>9565</value>
</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
</postTransactionAmounts>
<ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value>
</directOrIndirectOwnership>
</ownershipNature>
</nonDerivativeTransaction>
</nonDerivativeTable>
<derivativeTable><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Option (right to buy)</value>
</securityTitle>
<conversionOrExercisePrice><value>8.8125</value>
</conversionOrExercisePrice>
<transactionDate><value>2003-11-12</value>
</transactionDate>
<transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
<transactionCode>X</transactionCode>
<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
</transactionCoding>
<transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>13500</value>
</transactionShares>
<transactionPricePerShare><footnoteId id="F3"></footnoteId>
</transactionPricePerShare>
<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value>
</transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
</transactionAmounts>
<exerciseDate><footnoteId id="F2"></footnoteId>
</exerciseDate>
<expirationDate><value>2003-11-15</value>
</expirationDate>
<underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value>
</underlyingSecurityTitle>
<underlyingSecurityShares><value>25000</value>
</underlyingSecurityShares>
</underlyingSecurity>
<postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>0</value>
</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
</postTransactionAmounts>
<ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value>
</directOrIndirectOwnership>
</ownershipNature>
</derivativeTransaction>
</derivativeTable>
<footnotes><footnote id="F1">Exercise of in-the-money stock options at fixed price.</footnote>
<footnote id="F2">Cumulative installments of 6,250 shares each on or after November 15, 1994, 1995, 1996 and 1997.</footnote>
<footnote id="F3">Stock options granted under Issuer's 1985 Long-Term Incentive Plan.</footnote>
</footnotes>
<ownerSignature><signatureName>Frederick B. Hegi, Jr. by Robert F. Spears, Attorney-In-Fact</signatureName>
<signatureDate>2003-11-14</signatureDate>
</ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

