<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0001179110-19-007388
<TYPE>4
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>1
<PERIOD>20190606
<FILING-DATE>20190610
<DATE-OF-FILING-DATE-CHANGE>20190610
<REPORTING-OWNER>
<OWNER-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>JONES TERRELL B
<CIK>0001219057
</OWNER-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>4
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>001-35155
<FILM-NUMBER>19888788
</FILING-VALUES>
</REPORTING-OWNER>
<ISSUER>
<COMPANY-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>BOINGO WIRELESS INC
<CIK>0001169988
<ASSIGNED-SIC>4899
<IRS-NUMBER>000000000
<STATE-OF-INCORPORATION>DE
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>1231
</COMPANY-DATA>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>10960 WILSHIRE BLVD., 23RD FLOOR
<CITY>LOS ANGELES
<STATE>CA
<ZIP>90024
<PHONE>310-586-5180
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>10960 WILSHIRE BLVD., 23RD FLOOR
<CITY>LOS ANGELES
<STATE>CA
<ZIP>90024
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</ISSUER>
<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>2019-06-06</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001169988</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>BOINGO WIRELESS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>WIFI</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001219057</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>JONES TERRELL B</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O BOINGO WIRELESS INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>10960 WILSHIRE BLVD 23RD FL</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>LOS ANGELES</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>90024</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>Restricted Stock Units</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2019-06-06</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>6837</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>6837</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>6837</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Each restricted stock unit represents a contingent right to receive one share of Boingo Wireless, Inc. common stock.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">On June 6, 2019, the Reporting Person was granted 6,837 restricted stock units, vesting in full upon the earlier of: (i) June 6, 2020; (ii) a change in control of Boingo Wireless, Inc.; or (iii) the day immediately prior to Boingo Wireless, Inc.'s first regular meeting of stockholders that occurs in 2020. The restricted stock units are settled in shares of common stock that will be delivered to the Reporting Person shortly after each vesting date.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Efren Medina as Attorney-in-Fact for Terrell Jones</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2019-06-10</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SUBMISSION>
