SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                   FORM 10-K

(Mark One)
     |x|ANNUAL  REPORT  PURSUANT  TO  SECTION  13 OR 15 (d)  OF  THE  SECURITIES
EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 [FEE REQUIRED]

                   For the fiscal year ended December 28, 1996
                                       OR

     |_|TRANSITION  REPORT  PURSUANT  TO SECTION 13 OR 15 (d) OF THE  SECURITIES
EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 [NO FEE REQUIRED]

For the transition period from __________ to __________
                                 Commission File
                                  Number 1-6853
                              Shaw Industries, Inc.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

               Georgia                            58-1032521

     (State or other jurisdiction of           (I.R.S. Employer
     incorporation or organization)          Identification Number)

        616 East Walnut Avenue,
            Dalton, Georgia                         30720
 (Address of principal executive offices)         (Zip Code)

         Registrant's telephone number including area code: 706/278-3812

           SECURITIES REGISTERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b) OF THE ACT:

                                              Name of Each Exchange
         Title of Each Class                   On Which Registered
    Common Stock, No Par Value              The New York Stock Exchange
         $1.11 Stated Value                 The Pacific Stock Exchange

      Rights to Purchase Series A
    Participating Preferred Stock           The New York Stock Exchange
         $.50 Stated Value                  The Pacific Stock Exchange

          SECURITIES REGISTERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 12 (g) OF ACT: None

     Indicate  by check mark  whether the  registrant  (1) has filed all reports
required to be filled by Section 13 or 15(d) of the  Securities  Exchange Act of
1934  during  the  preceding  12 months  (or for such  shorter  period  that the
registrant  was  required to file such  reports and (2) has been subject to such
filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes x No_____

     Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent  filers pursuant to Item
405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the
best of registrant's  knowledge,  in definitive proxy or information  statements
incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this
Form 10-K. [X]

     Aggregate  market value of the voting stock held by  non-affiliates  of the
registrant,  computed by  reference  to the closing  sales price on The New York
Stock Exchange on March 14, 1997 was: $1,053,474,929

     Indicate  the  number of  shares  outstanding  of each of the  registrant's
classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.

       Title of Each Class                 Outstanding at March 14, 1997
 Common Stock, No Par Value                  133,248,201     Shares

     DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
1996 Annual Report to Shareholders --- Part II.
Definitive  Proxy Statement for the 1997 Annual Meeting of Shareholders on
April 24, 1997 --- Part III.


                                     PART I

Item I. Business

     Shaw  Industries,  Inc.  ("Shaw" or the  "Company") is the world's  largest
carpet manufacturer based on both revenue and volume of production. Shaw designs
and  manufactures  approximately  2,500  styles of tufted  and woven  carpet for
residential and commercial use under the PHILADELPHIA,  TRUSTMARK, CABIN CRAFTS,
SHAW  COMMERCIAL  CARPETS,  STRATTON,  NETWORX,  SHAWMARK,  EVANS BLACK,  SALEM,
SUTTON, KOSSET, CROSSLEY, ABINGDON, REDBOOK, MINSTER and INVICTA trade names and
under certain private labels. The Company's  manufacturing  operations are fully
integrated  from the  processing of yarns  through the finishing of carpet.  The
Company's  carpet  is sold in a broad  range of  prices,  patterns,  colors  and
textures  with the  majority  of its sales in the  medium to high  retail  price
range.  Shaw  sells  its  wholesale  products  to  retailers,  distributors  and
commercial users throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico, Australia and the
United  Kingdom;  through its own  residential  retail and  commercial  contract
distribution channels to various residential and commercial and end users in the
United States; and to a lesser degree, exports to additional overseas markets.

     On May 31,  1994,  the Company  formed a joint  venture  (the "Terza  Joint
Venture") with Grupo Industrial Alfa, S.A. de C.V. of Monterrey, Mexico, for the
manufacture,  distribution  and marketing of carpets,  rugs and related products
primarily  in Mexico and South  America.  The Company  originally  acquired a 51
percent  interest in the Terza Joint Venture for $14,050,000  and,  accordingly,
the joint venture's  financial  statements were  consolidated with the Company's
financial  statements  at December  31,  1994.  Effective  January 1, 1995,  the
Company  sold a 2 percent  interest  in the Terza  Joint  Venture  for  $550,000
reducing its interest to 49 percent.  As a result,  the Company's  investment in
the Terza Joint  Venture is being  accounted  for using the equity  method.  The
deconsolidation  of the Terza Joint Venture had an  insignificant  effect on the
Company's  consolidated  total assets and net sales as of and for the year ended
December 30, 1995.

     On  January  9,  1995,  the  Company  acquired  through  its  wholly  owned
subsidiary,  Carpets  International (U.K.) Plc,  substantially all the operating
assets  of  the  Carpets  Division  of  Coats  Viyella  Plc  for   approximately
$29,503,000.  The acquisition was accounted for as a purchase and,  accordingly,
the purchase  price has been  allocated to the assets  acquired and  liabilities
assumed  based  on  management's  estimate  of  their  fair  values  as  of  the
acquisition date.

     In  December  1995,  the  Company  announced  a  new  retail  and  contract
distribution  strategy  to acquire  several  companies  which own and  franchise
residential  floorcovering  centers  throughout  the United  States,  as well as
several commercial carpet contractors. During 1996, the Company acquired several
residential  retail  and  commercial  contractors  including  Bell-Mann,   Inc.,
Carpetland  USA,  Inc.,  New York Carpet  World,  Inc.  and several  others.  In
addition,  the Company opened 57 Shaw Carpet Showplace residential retail stores
in California and Pennsylvania and 3 CarpetSmart  retail stores in New York. Net
sales for the Company's retail and commercial  contract  business totaled $498.6
million in 1996 and at December  28,  1996,  the Company has  approximately  350
retail and commercial contract locations throughout the United States.

     The Company  believes that, by combining the resources of the  manufacturer
and retailer and developing a contract  distribution  network,  it can provide a
full range of products  and services to more  effectively  meet the needs of the
end-users of both  residential and commercial  carpet products at  significantly
improved margins. As part of this strategy, the Company continues its efforts to
develop an alignment  program with dealers of both  residential  and  commercial
carpet products to provide a collection of services,  benefits and programs that
will encourage dealers to purchase more from the Company.  At December 28, 1996,
the Company has approximately 1400 aligned dealers.

     The Company, based upon its international expansion which began in 1993 and
continued into 1995, is now positioned to supply the Australian, Pacific Rim and
European  markets  with  high  quality  products.   For  1996,  1995  and  1994,
international   operations   accounted   for  10.5,   12.6  and  10.4   percent,
respectively,  of the Company's net sales. As a result of its foreign expansion,
the Company has limited  exposure to fluctuations in foreign  currency  exchange
rates on its  intercompany  payables.  The Company may employ  foreign  exchange
contracts  when,  in the  normal  course of  business,  they are  determined  to
effectively manage and reduce such exposure.  Geographical information about the
Company's sales,  operating  profit and  identifiable  assets is incorporated by
reference to page 20 of Exhibit 13 to this report.



Products and Marketing

     Substantially all carpet  manufactured by the Company is tufted carpet made
from  nylon,  polypropylene  yarn and  wool.  In the  tufting  process,  yarn is
inserted by multiple needles into a synthetic  backing,  forming loops which may
be cut  or  left  uncut,  depending  on the  desired  texture  or  construction.
According  to industry  estimates,  tufted  carpet  accounted  for 91.6% of unit
volume  shipments  of carpet  manufactured  in the United  States  during  1996.
Substantially  all  carpet  manufactured  in the  United  States  is  made  from
synthetic  fibers,  with nylon accounting for 62.3% of the total,  polypropylene
31.5%,  polyester  5.8%  and wool  0.4%.  During  1996,  the  Company  processed
approximately 96% of its requirements for carpet yarn in its own yarn processing
facilities.

     The  Company   believes   that  its   significant   investment  in  modern,
state-of-the-art  equipment  has  been an  important  factor  in  achieving  and
maintaining  its leadership  position in the  marketplace.  During the past five
fiscal years,  the Company has invested  approximately  $824 million  (including
acquisitions) in property additions. The Company continually seeks opportunities
for  increasing  its sales volume and market  share.  For  example,  the Company
continues to expand its product lines of carpet  manufactured from polypropylene
fiber,  including fibers produced by the Company's own extrusion equipment.  The
Company also has a manufacturing facility for the production of carpet tiles for
the  commercial  market  which is currently  being  expanded to  facilitate  the
Company's growing demand for its tile products.

     The  overall  level of sales for the  Company  and the carpet  industry  is
influenced by a number of factors,  including  consumer  confidence and spending
for durable goods,  interest  rates,  turnover in housing,  the condition of the
residential  construction  industry and the overall strength of the economy. The
Company's  international  operations  are also  impacted by the markets in which
they operate.

     The marketing of carpet is influenced  significantly  by current  trends in
style and fashion,  principally color trends. The Company believes it has been a
leader in the  development of color  technology in the carpet  industry and that
its dyeing  facilities  are among the most modern and versatile in the industry.
The Company  maintains an in-house  product  development  department to identify
developing  color and style trends  which are expected to affect its  customers'
buying decisions.  This department is strengthened by the Company's Research and
Development Center. This state-of-the-art  complex includes a 75,000 square foot
pilot plant  featuring  sample  extrusion,  yarn  processing,  tufting,  dyeing,
coating  and   shearing   equipment,   and  three  fiber  and  dye   development
laboratories.

Sales and Distribution

     The Company's wholesale products are marketed domestically by approximately
960 salaried  sales  personnel in its various  marketing  divisions  directly to
retailers and distributors and to large national  accounts through the Company's
National Accounts Division. The Company's ten (10) regional warehouse facilities
and eight (8)  redistribution  centers,  along with its  centralized  management
information system, enable it to provide prompt delivery of its products to both
its retail  customers and  wholesale  distributors.  The  Company's  substantial
investment  in  management  information  systems  permits  efficient  production
scheduling and control of inventory levels.

     The Company sells its wholesale products to approximately 39,660 retailers,
distributors  and  national  accounts  located  throughout  the  United  States,
Australia,  Mexico,  the United  Kingdom  and  Canada.  Retailers  and  national
accounts,  on a  combined  basis,  accounted  for  approximately  75.4%  of  the
Company's  carpet sales for 1996. Shaw also sells to  approximately 80 wholesale
distributors.  Approximately  9.0% of the Company's carpet sales in 1996 were to
distributors.  Sales of Shaw products in foreign markets, including the sales of
foreign subsidiaries,  accounted for approximately 10.5% of total sales in 1996.
No single  customer  accounted  for more than 2% of the  Company's  sales during
1996.

     The Company's retail and commercial  contract business  accounted for 15.6%
of the Company's total sales for 1996 and was  substantially  sold through those
businesses acquired by the Company in 1996.



Competition

     The carpet  industry  is highly  competitive  with more than 200  companies
engaged  in the  manufacture  and sale of carpet in the  United  States.  Carpet
manufacturers  also  face  competition  from  the  hard  surface   floorcovering
industry. According to industry estimates, carpet accounts for approximately 75%
of the total United  States  production  of all flooring  types.  The  principal
methods of competition within the carpet industry are quality,  style, price and
service.  The Company  believes its  strategically  located  regional  warehouse
facilities  and  redistribution  centers,  together with its retail and contract
distribution  network,  provide a competitive advantage by enabling it to supply
carpet on a timely basis to customers.  The Company's  long-standing practice in
investing in modern, state-of-the-art equipment contributes significantly to its
ability to compete effectively on the basis of quality, style and price.

Raw Materials

     The  principal  raw  materials  used by the  Company  are  nylon  fiber and
filament,  and synthetic  backing;  additional raw materials include  polyester,
polypropylene  and wool fibers and filaments,  jute, latex and dye. During 1996,
the Company experienced no significant shortages of raw materials.

Employees

     At  December  28,  1996,  the Company had  approximately  29,800  full-time
employees. In the opinion of management,  employee relations are good. Employees
are  involved  in the  Quality  Improvement  Process,  which  began in 1985 as a
program  designed  to  improve  the  Company's  products  and  services  through
education and training.  A small number of the Company's  retail and  commercial
contractor  employees in the United States are  represented  by unions.  Certain
employees of foreign subsidiaries are represented by unions.

Environmental Matters

     Management  believes the Company is currently in compliance in all material
respects  with  applicable  federal,  state and local  statutes  and  ordinances
regulating  the  discharge  of  materials  into the  environment  and  otherwise
relating to the protection of the  environment.  Management does not believe the
Company  will be required to expend any  material  amounts in order to remain in
compliance  with these laws and  regulations or that  compliance will materially
affect its capital expenditures, earnings or competitive position.

     The Company  continued  its  commitment  to the  environment  during  1996.
Because of this commitment to finding new ways of using mill waste,  the Company
is  agressively  pursuing an  environmentally  friendly use for all of its waste
products. For example, future possibilities for use of fiber reinforced concrete
include  road  and  bridge   construction,   military   applications,   building
foundations, tile, brick and concrete blocks.

Patents, Trademarks, etc.

     Patent  protection  has not been  significant  to the  Company's  business,
although the Company  does hold several  patents  covering  machinery  used in a
specific carpet coloring process.



Item 2. Properties

The Company's executive offices are located in Dalton,  Georgia. At December 28,
1996, the Company operated additional facilities as follows:

Domestic Facilities (wholesale)
Alabama                       Redistribution, yarn spinning and yarn extrusion
Michigan                      Redistribution
Missouri                      Redistribution
Florida                       Redistribution
North Carolina                Redistribution, primary backing manufacturing
Ohio                          Redistribution
Pennsylvania                  Redistribution
Virginia                      Redistribution


California                    Warehousing
Colorado                      Warehousing
Illinois                      Warehousing
Massachusetts                 Warehousing
Minnesota                     Warehousing
New Jersey                    Warehousing
Texas                         Warehousing
Washington                    Warehousing


Georgia                       Administrative, distribution, carpet 
                              manufacturing, yarn processing, yarn spinning,
                              tufting, dyeing, coating, finishing, rug
                              manufacturing, sample manufacturing, warehousing,
                              design center and research and development center.

Tennessee                     Carpet manufacturing, yarn spinning

Domestic Facilities   (retail - number of locations in parenthesis)

California                    Retail stores, warehousing, administrative (59)
Colorado                      Warehousing, administrative (1)
Connecticut                   Retail stores (7)
Florida                       Retail stores, warehousing, administrative (36)
Georgia                       Retail stores, warehousing, administrative (6)
Idaho                         Retail stores (3)
Illinois                      Retail stores, warehousing, administrative (44)
Indiana                       Retail stores, administrative (19)
Iowa                          Retail stores (9)
Kansas                        Retail stores (9)
Maryland                      Retail stores, warehousing, administrative (6)
Massachusetts                 Retail stores, warehousing, administrative (10)
Michigan                      Retail stores, warehousing, administrative (56)
Minnesota                     Retail stores, warehousing, administrative (4)
Missouri                      Retail stores, warehousing, administrative (14)
Montana                       Retail stores (1)
New Hampshire                 Retail stores (2)
New Jersey                    Administrative (1)
New Mexico                    Retail stores (4)
New York                      Retail stores, warehousing, administrative (6)
North Carolina                Retail stores (22)
Ohio                          Retail stores, warehousing, administrative (10)
Pennsylvania                  Retail stores (8)
Rhode Island                  Retail stores (2)
South Carolina                Retail Stores (9)
South Dakota                  Retail stores (1)
Tennessee                     Retail stores (2)
Texas                         Warehousing, administrative (2)
Virginia                      Retail stores, warehousing, administrative (18)
Washington                    Retail stores, warehousing, administrative (5)

Foreign Facilities   (facilities are located in or near the areas listed)
Bradford, England             Tufting, coating, yarn processing, distribution
                              and administrative offices

Gwent, Wales                  Yarn extrusion, yarn processing

Victoria, Australia           Yarn extrusion, yarn processing, tufting, dyeing,
                              coating, distribution and administrative  offices

Donaghadee, N. Ireland        Tufting, dyeing and finishing

     During 1996, the wool spinning  facilities and Axminister carpet production
in the  United  Kingdom  were  closed  and are being  phased  out.  The  Company
maintains leased  warehouses and customer service  facilities in or near Dallas;
Los Angeles (2);  Seattle;  San Francisco;  Chicago;  Minneapolis;  Boston;  and
Cranbury,  New Jersey. Each leased warehouse facility includes a sales showroom.
Substantially  all of the Company's  retail  facilities are leased.  The Company
believes that current  facilities  are adequately  insured and well  maintained,
substantially  used and provide  adequate  production  capacity  for current and
anticipated future operations.



Item 3. Legal Proceedings

     The  Company  is a party to  several  lawsuits  incidental  to its  various
activities and incurred in the ordinary course of business. The Company believes
that it has  meritorious  claims and defenses in each case.  After  consultation
with counsel,  it is the opinion of management  that,  although  there can be no
assurance  given,  none of the associated  claims,  when  resolved,  will have a
material adverse effect upon the Company.

     From time to time the Company is subject to claims and suits arising in the
course of its  business.  The  Company  is a  defendant  in  certain  litigation
alleging  personal injury  resulting from personal  exposure to volatile organic
compounds  found  in  carpet  produced  by  the  Company.  The  complaints  seek
injunctive relief and unspecified  money damages on all claims.  The Company has
denied any liability.  The Company believes that is has meritorious defenses and
that the  litigation  will not have a material  adverse  effect on the Company's
financial condition or results of operations.

     In June 1994, the Company and several other carpet manufacturers received a
grand jury subpoena from the Antitrust  Division of the United States Department
of Justice relating to an  investigation of the industry.  In December 1995, the
Company  learned  that it was one of six carpet  companies  named as  additional
defendants in a pending  antitrust suit filed in United States District Court in
Rome,  Georgia.  The amended  complaint alleges  price-fixing  regarding certain
types of carpet  products  in  violation  of Section 1 of the Sherman  Act.  The
Company  believes  that the suit is spurious  and without  merit,  and that once
completed, it will not have a material adverse effect on the Company's financial
condition or results of operations.

     In February 1996, a jury in Greensboro,  North Carolina  returned a verdict
against the Company in  litigation  brought by four  former  employees  of Salem
Carpet Mills,  acquired by the Company in 1992,  alleging age discrimination and
sex  discrimination in employment  decisions with regard to such employees.  The
judgement  is being  appealed by both  parties.  The Company  believes  that the
litigation  will not have a material  adverse effect on the Company's  financial
condition or results of operations.

     The Company is subject to a variety of environmental  regulations  relating
to the use storage,  discharge and disposal of hazardous  materials  used in its
manufacturing  processes.  Failure by the  Company to comply  with  present  and
future  regulations could subject it to future  liabilities.  In addition,  such
regulations could require the Company to acquire costly equipment to incur other
significant  expenses to comply with environmental  regulations.  The Company is
not involved in any material environmental proceedings.

     At the  end of  fiscal  year  1996,  there  were  no  other  pending  legal
proceedings to which the Company was a party or to which any of its property was
subject  which,  in the  opinion of  management,  were likely to have a material
adverse  effect on the  Company's  business,  financial  condition or results of
operations.

Item 4. Submission of Matters to Vote of Security Holders

       Not applicable.



Item 4(A). Executive Officers of the Registrant



                              Officer 
Name                    Age    Since    Position

                               
Robert E. Shaw          65     1967     Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and Director

W. Norris Little        65     1978     President and Chief Operating Officer and Director

William C. Lusk, Jr     61     1971     Senior Vice President, Treasurer and Director

Vance D. Bell           45     1983     Vice President, Marketing

Kenneth G. Jackson      39     1996     Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

Carl P. Rollins         53     1991     Vice President, Administration

Bennie M. Laughter      45     1986     Vice President, Secretary and General Counsel

Douglas H. Hoskins      62     1978     Controller



     Officers of the Company are elected annually by the Board of Directors. All
of the executive  officers of the Company except for Mr. Jackson and Mr. Rollins
have served as  executive  officers  for the Company for more than the past five
years.

     Mr. Jackson  joined the Company in February  1996.  Prior to February 1996,
Mr. Jackson had been a partner with Arthur Andersen LLP in Atlanta, Georgia.



                                     PART II
Item 5. Market for the Registrant's Common Stock and Related Shareholder Matters

     The high and low sales prices for the Company's common stock as reported by
the New York Stock  Exchange and the amount of dividends paid by quarter for the
last two fiscal years are set forth on page 24 of Exhibit 13.

     Reference is made to Note 2 of Notes to Consolidated  Financial  Statements
on page 12 of Exhibit 13 for information concerning  restrictions on the payment
of cash dividends.

     At March 7,  1997,  there were  4,253  holders  of record of the  Company's
common stock.

Item 6. Selected Financial Data

     This information is set forth on page 1 of the Exhibit 13 under the caption
"Ten Year Financial Review."

Item 7. Management's  Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results
of Operations

     This information is set forth on pages 2 - 4 of Exhibit 13 to this report.

Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data

     This information is set forth on pages 5 - 24 of Exhibit 13.

Item 9. Disagreements on Accounting and Financial Disclosure

     None.



                                    PART III
Item 10. Directors and Executive Officers of the Registrant

     Information  concerning directors is incorporated by reference to "Election
of Class of Directors" on pages 3 - 6 of the Proxy Statement for the 1997 Annual
Meeting of  Shareholders.  Reference is also made to Item 4(A) of Part I of this
report,   "Executive   Officers  of  the  Registrant,"   which   information  is
incorporated herein.

Item 11. Executive Compensation

     This  information is incorporated by reference to "Executive  Compensation"
on  pages  3 - 5  of  the  Proxy  Statement  for  the  1997  Annual  Meeting  of
Shareholders.

Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management

     This  information  is  incorporated  by  reference  to  "Voting  Rights and
Principal  Shareholders"  and  "Election  of  Directors"  on  pages  2  and  3-4
respectively,   of  the  Proxy   Statement  for  the  1997  Annual   Meeting  of
Shareholders.



                                     PART IV
Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions

     This information is incorporated by reference to "Certain Relationships" on
page 4 of the Proxy Statement for the 1997 Annual Meeting of Shareholders.

Item 14. Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules and Reports on Form 8-K

(a)    The following documents are filed as part of this report:

1.  Financial Statements

     Exhibit  13, a copy of which is filed  with this Form  10-K,  contains  the
balance  sheets as of  December  28, 1996 and  December  30,  1995,  the related
statements of income,  shareholders'  investment  and cash flows for each of the
three years in the period ended  December 28,  1996,  and the related  report of
Arthur  Andersen  LLP.  These  financial  statements  and the  report  of Arthur
Andersen LLP are  incorporated  herein by reference.  The  financial  statements
incorporated by reference include the following:

     Balance Sheets -- December 28, 1996 and December 30, 1995

     Statements  of Income for the years ended  December 28, 1996,  December 30,
     1995 and December 31, 1994.

     Statements of  Shareholders'  Investment  for the years ended  December 28,
     1996, December 30, 1995 and December 31, 1994.

     Statements  of Cash Flows for the years ended  December 28, 1996,  December
     30, 1995 and December 31, 1994.


2.  Financial Statement Schedules

     Report of Independent Public Accountants on Financial Statement Schedule

     Schedule  II -  Valuation  and  Qualifying  Accounts  for the  Years  Ended
     December 28, 1996, December 30, 1995 and December 31, 1994.



3.  Exhibits incorporated by reference or filed with this report.

Number                Description

3(a) Amended and Restated  Articles of  Incorporation.  [Incorporated  herein by
     reference to Exhibit 3(a) to Registrant's Registration Statement filed with
     the commission on December 28, 1993 (File No. 33-51719).]

3(b) Bylaws.  [Incorporated  herein by reference to Exhibit 3(b) to Registrant's
     Registration Statement filed with the commission on December 28, 1993 (File
     No. 33-51714).]

4(a) Specimen  form  of  Common  Stock  Certificate.   [Incorporated  herein  by
     reference  to Exhibit 2 to  Registrant's  Report on Form 8-A filed with the
     Securities and Exchange Commission on May 12, 1989 (File No. 1-6853).]

4(b) Restated Articles of  Incorporation,  filed as Exhibit 3(a), and the Bylaws
     of Registrant, filed as Exhibit 3(b), are incorporated herein by reference.

4(c) Rights  Agreement  dated as of  April  10,  1989,  between  Registrant  and
     Citizens and Southern  Trust  Company  (Georgia),  N.A.,  as Rights  Agent.
     [Incorporated  herein by  reference  to Exhibit 1 to  Registrant's  Current
     Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May
     5, 1989 (File No. 1-6853).]

10(a) Reserved

10(b)* Deferred Compensation Plan and form of Deferred Compensation Agreement of
     Registrant as adopted in April, 1980.  [Incorporated herein by reference to
     the  Registrant's  July 2, 1994 Form 10-K  filed  with the  Securities  and
     Exchange Commission (File No. 1-6853).]

10(c), 10(d), 10(e) and 10(f) Reserved

10(g)Credit   Agreement  dated  November  30,  1994,   between   Registrant  and
     Nationsbank  of Georgia,  National  Association,  regarding a  $600,000,000
     revolving  credit  facility.  [Incorporated  herein  by  reference  to  the
     Registrant's  December  31,  1994 Form 10-K filed with the  Securities  and
     Exchange Commission (File No. 1-6853).]

10(h)* 1987 Incentive Stock Option Plan of the Registrant.  [Incorporated herein
     by  reference  to Exhibit A to  Registrant's  1987 Proxy  Statement,  dated
     September 22, 1987 (File No. 1-6853).]

10(i) Reserved

10(j)* 1989 Discounted Stock Option Plan of the Registrant. [Incorporated herein
     by  reference  to Exhibit A to  Registrant's  1989 Proxy  Statement,  dated
     September 21, 1989 (File No. 1-6853).]

10(k)* 1992 Incentive Stock Option Plan of the Registrant.  [Incorporated herein
     by reference to Exhibit A to  Registrant's  1992 Proxy (File No.  1-6853).]
     Statement, dated September 18, 1992 (File No.1-6853).]

11   Computation  of Earnings per Share for the fiscal years ended  December 28,
     1996, December 30, 1995 and December 31, 1994.

13   Items   Incorporated   by  Reference   from  the  1996  Annual   Report  to
     Shareholders.

21   List of Subsidiaries.

23   Consent of independent public accountants.

27   Financial Data Schedule.

     *Compensatory  plan or  management  contract  required  to be  filed  as an
exhibit to Item 14 (c) of Form 10-K.

     Shareholders  may obtain  copies of Exhibits  without  charge upon  written
request to the Corporate  Secretary,  Shaw  Industries,  Inc., Mail drop 061-18,
P.O. Drawer 2128, Dalton, Georgia 30722-2128.

(b)  No reports on Form 8-K were filed during the last quarter of fiscal 1996.



     SIGNATURES  Pursuant  to the  requirements  of  Section  13 or 15(d) of the
Securities  Exchange Act of 1934,  the Registrant has duly caused this report to
be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

                                          SHAW INDUSTRIES, INC.

Date:  March 26, 1997                     By:/s/ ROBERT E. SHAW
                                          ------------------
                                          Robert E. Shaw
                                          Chairman, Chief Executive Officer
                                          and Director


     Pursuant to the  requirements of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, this
report  has  been  signed  below  by the  following  persons  on  behalf  of the
Registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

Date:  March 26, 1997                     /s/ ROBERT E. SHAW
                                          ------------------
                                          Robert E. Shaw
                                          Chairman, Chief Executive Officer
                                          and Director
                                          (Principal Executive Officer)

Date:  March 26, 1997                     /s/ KENNETH G. JACKSON
                                          ----------------------
                                          Kenneth G. Jackson
                                          Vice President and Chief Financial
                                          Officer
                                          (Principal Financial and Accounting
                                          Officer)

Date:  March 26, 1997                     /s/ J. C. SHAW
                                          --------------
                                          J.C. Shaw
                                          Chairman Emeritus and Director

Date:  March 26, 1997                     /s/ W. NORRIS LITTLE
                                          --------------------
                                          W. Norris Little
                                          President and Chief Operating Officer
                                          and Director

Date:  March 26, 1997                     /s/ WILLIAM C. LUSK, JR.
                                          William C. Lusk, Jr.
                                          Sr. Vice President, Treasurer and
                                          Director

Date:  March 26, 1997                     /s/ ROBERT R. HARLIN
                                          --------------------
                                          Robert R. Harlin
                                          Director

Date:  March 26, 1997                     /s/ THOMAS G. COUSINS
                                          ---------------------
                                          Thomas G. Cousins
                                          Director

Date:  March 26, 1997                     /s/ TUCKER GRIGG
                                          ----------------
                                          S. Tucker Grigg
                                          Director

Date:  March 26, 1997                     /s/ CLIFFORD M. KIRTLAND, JR.
                                          Clifford M. Kirtland, Jr.
                                          Director

Date:  March 26, 1997                     /s/ J. HICKS LANIER
                                          -------------------
                                          J. Hicks Lanier
                                          Director

Date:  March 26, 1997                     /s/ R. JULIAN McCAMY
                                          --------------------
                                          R. Julian McCamy
                                          Director


                    REPORT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
                         ON FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULE



To the Shareholders of
Shaw Industries, Inc.:

We have audited in accordance  with generally  accepted  auditing  standards the
financial  statements of SHAW INDUSTRIES,  INC. included in the Annual Report to
Shareholders  incorporated  by  reference  in this Form 10-K and have issued our
report  thereon dated  February 21, 1997.  Our audit was made for the purpose of
forming an opinion on the basic financial statements taken as a whole.  Schedule
II is the  responsibility  of the  Company's  management  and is  presented  for
purposes of complying with the Securities and Exchange Commission's rules and is
not part of the basic financial statements.  This schedule has been subjected to
the auditing  procedures applied in the audit of the basic financial  statements
and, in our opinion, fairly states, in all material respects, the financial data
required to be set forth therein in relation to the basic  financial  statements
taken as a whole.


ARTHUR ANDERSEN LLP

Atlanta, Georgia
February 21, 1997





                                                                     SCHEDULE II
                              SHAW INDUSTRIES, INC.

                        VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS

 FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 28, 1996, DECEMBER 30, 1995 AND DECEMBER 31, 1994

$ in thousands
                                                                                                                    
                                                                        Additions
                                                 Balance at             Charged to
                                                 Beginning              Costs and                                    Balance at
                                                  of Year                Expenses            Deductions             End of Year
                                             -------------------    -------------------   ------------------     -------------------

YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1994:
     Allowance for doubtful accounts and
     discounts                             $             13,051   $            112,978  $           108,104    $             17,925
                                             ===================    ===================   ==================     ===================

YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 30, 1995:
     Allowance for doubtful accounts and
     discounts                             $             17,925   $            110,541  $           113,720 *  $             14,746
                                             ===================    ===================   ==================     ===================

YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 28, 1996:
     Allowance for doubtful accounts and
     discounts                             $             14,746   $            108,610  $           106,689    $             16,667
                                             ===================    ===================   ==================     ===================



*  Deductions  for  December  30,  1995  include   $1,018,000   related  to  the
deconsolidation of the Terza Joint Venture.