<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001179110-18-006983.txt : 20180517
<SEC-HEADER>0001179110-18-006983.hdr.sgml : 20180517
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20180517132415
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001179110-18-006983
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20180516
FILED AS OF DATE:		20180517
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20180517

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			McCreary Jeffrey Stephen
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001535329

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-10560
		FILM NUMBER:		18842440

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O MIPS TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
		STREET 2:		955 EAST ARQUES AVENUE
		CITY:			SUNNYVALE
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94085

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BENCHMARK ELECTRONICS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000863436
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARDS [3672]
		IRS NUMBER:				742211011
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			TX
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		4141 N. SCOTTSDALE ROAD
		STREET 2:		SUITE 301
		CITY:			SCOTTSDALE
		STATE:			AZ
		ZIP:			85251
		BUSINESS PHONE:		623-300-7000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		4141 N. SCOTTSDALE ROAD
		STREET 2:		SUITE 301
		CITY:			SCOTTSDALE
		STATE:			AZ
		ZIP:			85251
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4 -
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2018-05-16</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001535329</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>McCreary Jeffrey Stephen</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>4141 N. SCOTTSDALE ROAD</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SCOTTSDALE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>AZ</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>85251</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>2018-05-16</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>5444</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>41225</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>200</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Spouse</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable></derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">These shares are represented by a restricted stock unit award bearing the right to receive Common Shares and are scheduled to vest in ratable quarterly installments over a one-year period from the grant date.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ James Walker by Power of Attorney for Jeffrey S McCreary</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2018-05-17</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
