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

    <documentType>3</documentType>
<periodOfReport>2003-10-01</periodOfReport>
    <noSecuritiesOwned>1</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000833845</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>BOOTS &amp; COOTS INTERNATIONAL WELL CONTROL INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>wel</issuerTradingSymbol>
</issuer>
<reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001266179</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>HERLIN ROBERT  S</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>11615 N. HOUSTON ROSSLYN</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>HOUSTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>TX</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>77086</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>1</isDirector>
<isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
<isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
<isOther>0</isOther>
<officerTitle></officerTitle>
<otherText></otherText>
</reportingOwnerRelationship>
</reportingOwner>
<remarks>No Securities are beneficially owned.</remarks>
<ownerSignature>
<signatureName>/s/ Robert S. Herlin</signatureName>
<signatureDate>2003-10-06</signatureDate>
</ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

