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

    <schemaVersion>X0206</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2020-04-09</periodOfReport>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>1</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000010048</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>BARNWELL INDUSTRIES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>BRN</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0000922294</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>GROSSMAN KENNETH S</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O BARNWELL INDUSTRIES, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>1100 ALAKEA STREET, SUITE 2900</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>HONOLULU</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>HI</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>96813</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable></nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable></derivativeTable>

    <footnotes></footnotes>

    <remarks>The election of the Reporting Person as a Director became effective on April 9, 2020 when the independent inspector of election delivered his certified final report setting forth the results of the 2020 Annual Meeting of Stockholders of Barnwell Industries, Inc., which was held on April 3, 2020.</remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Kenneth S. Grossman</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2020-04-15</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
