<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0001179110-07-009763
<TYPE>4
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>1
<PERIOD>20070509
<FILING-DATE>20070511
<DATE-OF-FILING-DATE-CHANGE>20070511
<ISSUER>
<COMPANY-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>BENCHMARK ELECTRONICS INC
<CIK>0000863436
<ASSIGNED-SIC>3672
<IRS-NUMBER>742211011
<STATE-OF-INCORPORATION>TX
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>1231
</COMPANY-DATA>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>3000 TECHNOLOGY DRIVE
<CITY>ANGLETON
<STATE>TX
<ZIP>77515
<PHONE>9798496550
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>3000 TECHNOLOGY DR
<CITY>ANGLETON
<STATE>TX
<ZIP>77515
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</ISSUER>
<REPORTING-OWNER>
<OWNER-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>DUNCAN DOUGLAS G
<CIK>0001239004
</OWNER-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>4
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>001-10560
<FILM-NUMBER>07841846
</FILING-VALUES>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>1715 AARON BRENNER DR STE 600
<CITY>MEMPHIS
<STATE>TN
<ZIP>38120
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</REPORTING-OWNER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4 -
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2007-05-09</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000863436</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>BENCHMARK ELECTRONICS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>BHE</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001239004</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>DUNCAN DOUGLAS G</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1715 AARON BRENNER DRIVE, SUITE 600</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>MEMPHIS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>TN</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>38120</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>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>21.35</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2007-05-09</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>10000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>21.35</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2007-05-09</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2017-05-09</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>10000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>10000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes></footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Douglas G Duncan</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2007-05-11</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SUBMISSION>
