AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON OCTOBER 18, 2002

                                                      REGISTRATION NO. 333-
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                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                            ------------------------

                                    FORM S-3
                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                        UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
                            ------------------------

                               MASCO CORPORATION
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


                                                          
                         DELAWARE                                                    38-1794485
      (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)                      (IRS Employer Identification No.)


                              21001 VAN BORN ROAD
                             TAYLOR, MICHIGAN 48180
                                 (313) 274-7400
  (Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of
                   Registrant's principal executive offices)
                            ------------------------

                                JOHN R. LEEKLEY
                   SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT AND GENERAL COUNSEL
                               MASCO CORPORATION
                              21001 VAN BORN ROAD
                             TAYLOR, MICHIGAN 48180
                                 (313) 274-7400
 (Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code,
                             of agent for service)
                            ------------------------

                          COPIES OF COMMUNICATIONS TO:
                                JOHN M. BRANDOW
                             DAVIS POLK & WARDWELL
                              450 LEXINGTON AVENUE
                            NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10017
                                 (212) 450-4000
                            ------------------------

   APPROXIMATE DATE OF COMMENCEMENT OF PROPOSED SALE TO THE PUBLIC: From time to
time after this Registration Statement becomes effective.

   If the only securities being registered on this Form are being offered
pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following
box. [ ]

   If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a
delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of
1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), other than securities offered only in
connection with dividend or interest reinvestment plans, check the following
box. [X]

   If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering
pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box
and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier
registration statement for the same offering. [ ]

   If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c)
under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act
registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement
for the same offering. [ ]

   If delivery of the prospectus is expected to be made pursuant to Rule 434,
please check the following box. [ ]
                            ------------------------

                        CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE



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                                                                       PROPOSED MAXIMUM        PROPOSED
             TITLE OF EACH CLASS OF                  AMOUNT TO BE       OFFERING PRICE     MAXIMUM AGGREGATE       AMOUNT OF
         SECURITIES TO BE REGISTERED(1)              REGISTERED(2)        PER UNIT(3)      OFFERING PRICE(4)   REGISTRATION FEE
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Debt Securities, Preferred Stock (par value $1.00
 per share) Depositary Shares(5), Common Stock
 (par value $1.00 per share) and related
 Preferred Stock Purchase Rights, Share Purchase
 Contracts and Share Purchase Units(6)...........   $2,000,000,000            --            $2,000,000,000         $184,000
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(1) This Registration Statement also covers such indeterminate number of shares
    of Common Stock of the Registrant and accompanying Preferred Stock Purchase
    Rights, if any (i) as shall be issuable or deliverable upon conversion of
    any Debt Securities or Preferred Stock registered hereby which are
    convertible into such Common Stock, (ii) as may be required for delivery
    upon conversion of any such convertible Debt Securities or convertible
    preferred stock as a result of anti-dilution provisions thereof, and (iii)
    as shall be issuable or deliverable in connection with the Share Purchase
    Contracts and Share Purchase Units.
(2) In no event will the aggregate initial offering price of the Debt
    Securities, Preferred Stock, Common Stock and related Preferred Stock
    Purchase Rights, Share Purchase Contracts and Share Purchase Units issuable
    upon exercise of the Preferred Stock Purchase Rights exceed $2,000,000,000
    or the equivalent thereof in one or more foreign currencies or composite
    currencies.
(3) Not specified as to each class of securities to be registered, pursuant to
    General Instruction II.D. of Form S-3 under the Securities Act of 1933. The
    proposed maximum offering price per unit will be determined from time to
    time by the Registrant in connection with, and at the time of, the issuance
    by the Registrant of the securities registered hereunder.
(4) Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee.
(5) Depositary Shares representing Preferred Stock.
(6) Each Share Purchase Unit consists of, among other things, (a) a Share
    Purchase Contract under which the holder, upon settlement, will purchase an
    indeterminate number of shares of the Registrant's Common Stock and (b) a
    beneficial interest in Debt Securities, Preferred Stock or debt obligations
    of third parties purchased with the proceeds from the sale of the Share
    Purchase Units. Each beneficial interest will be pledged to secure the
    obligation of such holder to purchase such shares of the Registrant's Common
    Stock. No separate consideration will be received for the Share Purchase
    Contract or the related beneficial interests.
                            ------------------------

   THE REGISTRANT HEREBY AMENDS THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON SUCH DATE OR
DATES AS MAY BE NECESSARY TO DELAY ITS EFFECTIVE DATE UNTIL THE REGISTRANT SHALL
FILE A FURTHER AMENDMENT WHICH SPECIFICALLY STATES THAT THIS REGISTRATION
STATEMENT SHALL THEREAFTER BECOME EFFECTIVE IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 8(A) OF
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 OR UNTIL THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT SHALL BECOME
EFFECTIVE ON SUCH DATE AS THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION, ACTING
PURSUANT TO SAID SECTION 8(A), MAY DETERMINE.

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THE INFORMATION IN THIS PROSPECTUS IS NOT COMPLETE AND MAY BE CHANGED. WE MAY
NOT SELL THESE SECURITIES UNTIL THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT FILED WITH THE
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION IS EFFECTIVE. THIS PROSPECTUS IS NOT AN OFFER
TO SELL THESE SECURITIES AND IT IS NOT SOLICITING AN OFFER TO BUY THESE
SECURITIES IN ANY STATE WHERE THE OFFER OR SALE IS NOT PERMITTED.

                 SUBJECT TO COMPLETION. DATED OCTOBER 18, 2002
                                 $2,000,000,000
                               MASCO CORPORATION

                                Debt Securities
                         Preferred Stock ($1 Par Value)
                          Common Stock ($1 Par Value)
                            Share Purchase Contracts
                              Share Purchase Units

                             ----------------------

     We may offer and issue debt securities and shares of our preferred stock
and common stock from time to time. The debt securities and shares of preferred
stock may be convertible into or exchangeable for shares of our common stock or
other securities. We may offer and issue preferred stock either directly or
represented by depositary shares. We may offer contracts to purchase our common
stock from time to time either separately or as part of a unit along with our
debt securities or preferred stock or debt obligations of third parties. This
prospectus describes the general terms of these securities and the general
manner in which we will offer them. We will provide the specific terms of these
securities in supplements to this prospectus. The prospectus supplements will
also describe the specific manner in which we will offer these securities.

     Our common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol
"MAS." On October 17, 2002, the closing price of our common stock was $20.30 per
share.

                             ----------------------

     INVESTING IN THESE SECURITIES INVOLVES RISKS.  SEE "RISK FACTORS" BEGINNING
ON PAGE 3.

                             ----------------------

     NEITHER THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION NOR ANY STATE SECURITIES
COMMISSION HAS APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED OF THESE SECURITIES, OR DETERMINED IF
THIS PROSPECTUS IS TRUTHFUL OR COMPLETE. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A
CRIMINAL OFFENSE.

                             ----------------------

     We may offer these securities in amounts, at prices and on terms determined
at the time of offering. We may sell the securities directly to you, through
agents we select, or through underwriters and dealers we select. If we use
agents, underwriters or dealers to sell these securities, we will name them and
describe their compensation in a prospectus supplement.

                             ----------------------

                The date of this prospectus is October 18, 2002.


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                               TABLE OF CONTENTS
                              -------------------



                          CAPTION                               PAGE
                          -------                               ----
                                                             
About This Prospectus.......................................      2
Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements...........      2
Masco Corporation...........................................      3
Risk Factors................................................      3
Use of Proceeds.............................................      5
Ratio of Earnings to Combined Fixed Charges and Preferred
  Stock Dividends...........................................      5
Description of Debt Securities..............................      6
Description of Capital Stock................................     15
Description of Depositary Shares............................     17
Description of Share Purchase Contracts and Share Purchase
  Units.....................................................     20
Plan of Distribution........................................     20
Legal Opinions..............................................     21
Experts.....................................................     21
Where You Can Find More Information.........................     21


                             ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

     This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission, referred to as the SEC in this prospectus,
utilizing a shelf registration process. Under this shelf process, we may issue,
from time to time, up to $2,000,000,000 of debt securities, shares of our
preferred stock and common stock, and share purchase contracts and related share
purchase units. Each time we issue securities under the registration statement
we will provide a prospectus supplement that will contain specific information
about the terms of that offering. The prospectus supplement may also add, update
or change information contained in this prospectus. You should read both this
prospectus and any prospectus supplement together with the additional
information described under the heading "Where You Can Find More Information."

               SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

     In this prospectus and in the documents we incorporate by reference, we
state our views about our future performance. These views, which constitute
"forward-looking statements" under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act
of 1995, involve risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict and,
accordingly, our actual results may differ materially from the results discussed
in such forward-looking statements. The Company has no obligation to update any
forward-looking statements as a result of new information, future events or
otherwise.

     Factors that affect our results of operations include the levels of home
improvement and residential construction activity principally in North America
and Europe (including repair and remodeling and new construction), our ability
to effectively manage our overall cost structure, fluctuations in European
currencies (primarily the euro and British pound), the importance of and our
relationships with home centers (including The Home Depot, which represented
approximately 25 percent of our sales in 2001) as distributors of home
improvement and building products, and our ability to maintain our leadership
positions in our markets in the face of increasing global competition.
Historically, we have been able to largely offset cyclical declines in housing
markets through new product introductions and acquisitions as

                                        2


well as market share gains. Additional factors that may significantly affect our
performance are discussed under "Management's Discussion and Analysis of
Financial Condition and Results of Operations" in our Annual Report on Form 10-K
and in our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q that are on file with the SEC as well
as under the heading "Risk Factors" in this prospectus.

     YOU SHOULD RELY ONLY ON THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS PROSPECTUS, IN
THE ACCOMPANYING PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT AND IN MATERIAL WE FILE WITH THE SEC. WE
HAVE NOT AUTHORIZED ANYONE TO PROVIDE YOU WITH INFORMATION THAT IS DIFFERENT.

     WE ARE OFFERING TO SELL, AND SEEKING OFFERS TO BUY, THE SECURITIES
DESCRIBED IN THIS PROSPECTUS ONLY WHERE OFFERS AND SALES ARE PERMITTED. SINCE
INFORMATION THAT WE FILE WITH THE SEC IN THE FUTURE WILL AUTOMATICALLY UPDATE
AND SUPERSEDE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS PROSPECTUS OR ANY ACCOMPANYING
PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT, YOU SHOULD NOT ASSUME THAT THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN
THIS PROSPECTUS OR IN ANY PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT IS ACCURATE AS OF ANY DATE OTHER
THAN THE DATE ON THE FRONT OF THE DOCUMENT.

                               MASCO CORPORATION

     Masco Corporation manufactures, sells and installs home improvement and
building products, with emphasis on brand name products and services holding
leadership positions in their markets. Masco is among the largest manufacturers
in North America of brand name consumer products designed for the home
improvement and home construction markets. Our business segments are: cabinets
and related products; plumbing products; installation and other services;
decorative architectural products; and other specialty products.

     Our executive offices are located at 21001 Van Born Road, Taylor, Michigan
48180. Our telephone number is (313) 274-7400 and our website address is
http://www.masco.com. The information on our website is not a part of this
prospectus. Except as the context otherwise indicates, the terms "Masco," "we,"
"us," and "our" refer to Masco Corporation.

                                  RISK FACTORS

     Before purchasing these securities, you should consider all of the
information set forth in this prospectus, in any accompanying prospectus
supplement and the information incorporated by reference in this prospectus and,
in particular, you should take into account the risk factors set forth below.

WE CANNOT ASSURE YOU THAT OUR GROWTH STRATEGIES WILL BE SUCCESSFUL

     Mergers and acquisitions have historically contributed significantly to our
long-term growth, after the initial impact on earnings of transaction-related
costs and expenses such as interest and added depreciation and amortization.
Successful strategic acquisitions require the integration of operations and
management and other efforts to realize the benefits that may be available to us
following the acquisition. Although we believe that we have been successful in
doing so in the past, we can give no assurance that we will continue to be able
to identify, acquire and integrate successful strategic acquisitions in the
future or be able to implement successfully our operating and growth strategies
within our existing markets or with respect to any future product or geographic
diversification efforts.

                                        3


OUR BUSINESS HAS BEEN AFFECTED BY ECONOMIC WEAKNESS AND BUSINESS CONDITIONS

     Factors that affect our results of operations include the levels of home
improvement and residential construction activity, principally in North America
and Europe (including repair and remodeling and new construction), our ability
to effectively manage our overall cost structure, fluctuations in European
currencies (primarily the euro and British pound), and our ability to maintain
our leadership positions in our markets in the face of increasing global
competition. Historically, we have been able largely to offset cyclical declines
in housing markets through new product introductions and acquisitions as well as
market share gains. We can give no assurance that we will be able to offset
these cyclical declines in the future.

WE RELY ON OUR KEY CUSTOMERS

     Our relationships with home centers are important to us. Direct sales of
our product lines to home center retailers have increased substantially in
recent years and, in 2001, sales to our largest customer, The Home Depot, were
$2.1 billion (approximately 25 percent of total sales). Although builders,
dealers and other retailers represent other channels of distribution for our
products, we believe that the loss of a substantial portion of our sales to The
Home Depot would have a material adverse impact on our company.

WE ARE DEFENDANTS IN LITIGATION INVOLVING PRODUCTS OF OUR BEHR PROCESS
CORPORATION SUBSIDIARY.

     We and our Behr Process Corporation subsidiary are defendants in several
class action lawsuits, including a class action lawsuit in the State of
Washington against Behr. These lawsuits relate to certain of Behr's exterior
wood coating products. The Washington trial court entered a default judgment
against Behr as a discovery sanction, which was affirmed by a Washington
appellate court. These proceedings and any recent developments concerning this
litigation are more fully described in our periodic and other reports filed with
the SEC and incorporated by reference into the registration statement of which
this prospectus forms a part.

     In light of the circumstances described in those filings, unless the
decision of the Washington trial court is reversed on appeal, we have determined
that it is probable that a loss has been incurred with respect to the Washington
class action. Based on our analysis of our exposure and the advice of our
outside counsel experienced in other class action lawsuits, our current best
judgment is that our ultimate liability in this action and all of the other
class actions in Washington and other States, including related fees and
expenses, should not materially exceed $200 million pre-tax in the aggregate,
exclusive of any possible recoveries from Behr's insurers or other parties. We
cannot assure you that the ultimate liability will not be higher than this
estimate.

OUR INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS HAS SPECIAL RISKS

     Our international operations outside of North America, principally in
Europe, are subject to political, monetary, economic and other risks attendant
generally to international businesses. These risks generally vary from country
to country. Results of existing European operations have been adversely
influenced in recent years, in part due to softness in our European markets,
competitive pricing pressures on certain products, the effect of a higher
percentage of lower margin sales to total European sales and a stronger U.S.
dollar.

OUR MARKETS ARE HIGHLY COMPETITIVE

     The major markets for our products are highly competitive. Competition in
all of our product lines is based primarily on performance, quality, style,
delivery, customer service and price, with the relative importance of such
factors varying among product categories.

                                        4


WE HAVE FINANCIAL COMMITMENTS AND INVESTMENTS IN FINANCIAL ASSETS

     As part of our strategy we often structure acquisition and other
transactions to provide, in addition to the consideration paid at closing,
contingent consideration to be paid in cash or stock if specified conditions are
met. These conditions may include the operating performance of the acquired
business in the case of an acquisition, the price of our common stock, or both.
In addition to possibly increasing the consideration we ultimately pay for an
acquisition, these conditions may also affect the number of contingently
issuable shares that are included in our periodic computation of diluted
earnings per common share, the amount of our accrued liabilities and our results
of operations.

     We also maintain investments in a number of private equity funds and in
marketable securities. These investments are generally carried as long-term
assets on our balance sheet. We record investments in marketable securities at
fair value, which is subject to adjustment based on market fluctuations.
Unrealized losses that are temporary impairments and unrealized gains are
recognized, net of tax, through shareholders' equity as a component of other
comprehensive income. Realized gains and losses and charges for other-than-
temporary impairments are included in other income.

     Our investments in private equity funds have no readily ascertainable
market value. These equity funds may invest in transactions that have an above
average degree of financial leverage or business risk. Our investments in these
funds are carried at cost and are periodically evaluated for impairment or when
circumstances indicate an impairment may exist. Income and gains, net realized
from these investments are included in other income when distributed or
received. In addition, we have commitments that may require us to contribute
additional capital to these private equity funds.

                                USE OF PROCEEDS

     We expect to use substantially all of the net proceeds from sales of the
securities described in this prospectus for our general corporate purposes,
which may include making additions to our working capital, repaying
indebtedness, financing acquisitions and investments in new or existing lines of
business. We will describe our intended use of the proceeds from a particular
offering of securities in the related prospectus supplement. Funds not required
immediately for any of the previously listed purposes may be invested in
marketable securities.

                  RATIO OF EARNINGS TO COMBINED FIXED CHARGES
                         AND PREFERRED STOCK DIVIDENDS

     Our ratios of earnings to combined fixed charges and preferred stock
dividends were as follows:



                      YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
SIX MONTHS ENDED  --------------------------------
 JUNE 30, 2002    2001   2000   1999   1998   1997
----------------  ----   ----   ----   ----   ----
                               
      5.1         2.0    4.9    7.0    7.6    7.5


     We calculated these ratios by dividing earnings before income taxes,
extraordinary income and fixed charges by our fixed charges and preferred stock
dividends.

     We included in the ratios the earnings and combined fixed charges and
preferred stock dividends of Masco and its consolidated subsidiaries and the
dividends received from 50% or less owned companies less our equity in their
undistributed earnings. Fixed charges consist of interest, amortization of debt
expense and the portion of rentals for real and personal properties that we deem
representative of the interest factor.

                                        5


     Excluding a third quarter 2001 pre-tax non-cash charge of $530 million and
a fourth quarter 2000 pre-tax non-cash charge of $145 million, the ratio of
earnings to combined fixed charges and preferred stock dividends would have been
3.9 and 5.6 for 2001 and 2000, respectively.

                         DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES

DEBT MAY BE SENIOR OR SUBORDINATED

     We may issue senior or subordinated debt securities. The senior debt
securities will constitute part of our senior debt, will be issued under our
Senior Debt Indenture, as defined below, and will rank on a parity with all of
our other unsecured and unsubordinated debt. The subordinated debt securities
will be issued under our Subordinated Debt Indenture, as defined below, and will
be subordinate and junior in right of payment, as set forth in the Subordinated
Debt Indenture, to all of our "senior indebtedness," which is defined in our
Subordinated Debt Indenture. If this prospectus is being delivered in connection
with a series of subordinated debt securities, the accompanying prospectus
supplement or the information we incorporate in this prospectus by reference
will indicate the approximate amount of senior indebtedness outstanding as of
the end of the most recent fiscal quarter. We refer to our Senior Debt Indenture
and our Subordinated Debt Indenture individually as an "indenture" and
collectively as the "indentures."

     We have summarized below the material provisions of the indentures and the
debt securities, or indicated which material provisions will be described in the
related prospectus supplement. These descriptions are only summaries, and each
investor should refer to the applicable indenture, which describes completely
the terms and definitions summarized below and contains additional information
regarding the debt securities.

     Any reference to particular sections or defined terms of the applicable
indenture in any statement under this heading qualifies the entire statement and
incorporates by reference the applicable section or definition into that
statement. The indentures are substantially identical, except for the provisions
relating to our negative pledge and limitations on sales and leasebacks, which
are included in the Senior Debt Indenture only, and the provisions relating to
subordination, which are included in the Subordinated Debt Indenture only.
Neither indenture limits our ability to incur additional indebtedness.

     We may issue debt securities from time to time in one or more series. The
debt securities may be denominated and payable in U.S. dollars or foreign
currencies. We may also issue debt securities, from time to time, with the
principal amount or interest payable on any relevant payment date to be
determined by reference to one or more currency exchange rates, securities or
baskets of securities, commodity prices or indices. Holders of these types of
debt securities will receive payments of principal or interest that depend upon
the value of the applicable currency, security or basket of securities,
commodity or index on or shortly before the relevant payment dates. As a result,
you may receive a payment of principal on any principal payment date, or a
payment of interest on any interest payment date, that is greater than or less
than the amount of principal or interest otherwise payable on such dates,
depending upon the value on such dates of the applicable currency, security or
basket of securities, commodity or index. Information as to the methods for
determining the amount of principal or interest payable on any date, the
currencies, securities or baskets of securities, commodities or indices to which
the amount payable on such date is linked and any additional material United
States federal income tax considerations will be set forth in the applicable
prospectus supplement.

     Debt securities may bear interest at a fixed rate, which may be zero, or a
floating rate. Debt securities bearing no interest or interest at

                                        6


a rate that at the time of issuance is below the prevailing market rate may be
sold at a discount below their stated principal amount.

     We may, without the consent of the existing holders of any series of debt
securities, issue additional debt securities having the same terms so that the
existing debt securities and the new debt securities form a single series under
the indenture.

TERMS SPECIFIED IN PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT

     The prospectus supplement will contain, where applicable, the following
terms of and other information relating to any offered debt securities:

- classification as senior or subordinated debt securities and the specific
  designation of such securities;

- aggregate principal amount and purchase price;

- currency in which the debt securities are denominated and/or in which
  principal, and premium, if any, and/or interest, if any, is payable;

- minimum denominations;

- date of maturity;

- the interest rate or rates or the method by which a calculation agent will
  determine the interest rate or rates, if any;

- the interest payment dates, if any;

- any repayment, redemption, prepayment or sinking fund provisions, including
  any redemption notice provisions;

- whether we will issue the debt securities in definitive form or in the form of
  one or more global securities;

- the terms on which holders of the debt securities may convert or exchange
  these securities into our common stock or other securities of Masco or other
  entities;

- information as to the methods for determining the amount of principal or
  interest payable on any date and/or the currencies, securities or baskets of
  securities, commodities or indices to which the amount payable on that date is
  linked;

- any special United States federal income tax consequences applicable to the
  debt securities being issued;

- whether we will issue the debt securities by themselves or as part of a unit
  together with other securities; and

- any other specific terms of the debt securities, including any additional
  events of default or covenants, and any terms required by or advisable under
  applicable laws or regulations.

REGISTRATION AND TRANSFER OF DEBT SECURITIES

     You may present debt securities for exchange and transfer in the manner, at
the places and subject to the restrictions set forth in the applicable
indenture. We will provide you those services free of charge, although you may
have to pay any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection with any
exchange or transfer, as set forth in the applicable indenture.

     If any of the debt securities are held in global form, the procedures for
transfer of interests in those securities will depend upon the procedures of the
depositary for those global securities. See "Global Securities" below.

DEFEASANCE

     Unless the prospectus supplement states otherwise, we will be able to
discharge all of our obligations, other than administrative obligations such as
facilitating transfers and exchanges of certificates and replacement of lost or
mutilated certificates, relating to a series of debt securities under an
indenture by depositing cash and/or U.S. Government obligations with the trustee
in an amount sufficient to make all of the remaining payments of principal,
premium and interest on those debt securities when those payments are due. We
can do this only if we have delivered to the trustee, among

                                        7


other things, an opinion of counsel based on a United States Internal Revenue
Service ruling or other change in U.S. federal income tax law stating that
holders will not recognize any gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes
as a result of this deposit.

     We can also avoid having to comply with the restrictive covenants in the
applicable indenture, such as the negative pledge and the limitation on sale and
leaseback transactions covenants in the Senior Debt Indenture, by depositing
cash and/or U.S. Government obligations with the trustee in an amount sufficient
to make all of the remaining payments of principal, premium and interest on the
outstanding debt securities when those payments are due. We can do this only if
we have delivered to the trustee, among other things, an opinion of counsel
stating that holders of those securities will not recognize any gain or loss for
U.S. federal income tax purposes as a result of this deposit.

INDENTURES

     Debt securities that will be senior debt will be issued under an Indenture
dated as of February 12, 2001 between Masco and Bank One Trust Company, National
Association, as trustee. We call that indenture, as further supplemented from
time to time, the Senior Debt Indenture. Debt securities that will be
subordinated debt will be issued under an Indenture between Masco and The Bank
of New York, as trustee. We call that indenture, as further supplemented from
time to time, the Subordinated Debt Indenture. We refer to Bank One Trust
Company, National Association and The Bank of New York individually as a
"trustee" and collectively as the "trustees."

SUBORDINATION PROVISIONS

     There are contractual provisions in the Subordinated Debt Indenture that
may prohibit us from making payments on our subordinated debt securities.
Subordinated debt securities are subordinate and junior in right of payment, to
the extent and in the manner stated in the Subordinated Debt Indenture, to all
of our senior indebtedness.

     The Subordinated Debt Indenture defines senior indebtedness generally as
obligations of, or guaranteed or assumed by, Masco for borrowed money or
evidenced by bonds, notes or debentures or other similar instruments or incurred
in connection with the acquisition of property, and amendments, renewals,
extensions, modifications and refundings of any of that indebtedness or of those
obligations. The subordinated debt securities and any other obligations
specifically designated as being subordinate in right of payment to senior
indebtedness are not senior indebtedness as defined under the Subordinated Debt
Indenture.

     The Subordinated Debt Indenture provides that, unless all principal of and
any premium or interest on the senior indebtedness has been paid in full, or
provision has been made to make those payments in full, no payment of principal
of, or any premium or interest on, any subordinated debt securities may be made
in the event:

- of any insolvency or bankruptcy proceedings, or any receivership, liquidation,
  reorganization or other similar proceedings involving us or a substantial part
  of our property;

- a default has occurred in the payment of principal, any premium, interest or
  other monetary amounts due and payable on any senior indebtedness, and that
  default has not been cured or waived or has not ceased to exist;

- there has occurred any other event of default with respect to senior
  indebtedness that permits the holder or holders of the senior indebtedness to
  accelerate the maturity of the senior indebtedness, and that event of default
  has not been cured or waived or has not ceased to exist; or

- that the principal of and accrued interest on any subordinated debt securities
  have been declared due and payable upon an event of default as defined under
  the Subordinated Debt Indenture, and that declaration has not

                                        8


  been rescinded and annulled as provided under the Subordinated Debt Indenture.

     If the trustee under the Subordinated Debt Indenture or any holders of the
subordinated debt securities receive any payment or distribution that is
prohibited under the subordination provisions, then the trustee or the holders
will have to repay that money to the holders of the senior indebtedness.

     Even if the subordination provisions prevent us from making any payment
when due on the subordinated debt securities of any series, we will be in
default on our obligations under that series if we do not make the payment when
due. This means that the trustee under the Subordinated Debt Indenture and the
holders of subordinated debt securities of that series can take action against
us, but they will not receive any money until the claims of the holders of
senior indebtedness have been fully satisfied.

COVENANTS RESTRICTING PLEDGES, MERGERS AND OTHER SIGNIFICANT CORPORATE ACTIONS

     In the following discussion, we use a number of capitalized terms which
have special meanings under the indentures. We provide definitions of these
terms under "Definitions" below.

     Negative Pledge. Section 10.04 of the Senior Debt Indenture provides that
so long as any of the senior debt securities remains outstanding, we will not,
nor will we permit any Consolidated Subsidiary to, issue, assume or guarantee
any Debt if such Debt is secured by a mortgage upon any Principal Property or
upon any shares of stock or indebtedness of any Consolidated Subsidiary which
owns or leases any Principal Property, whether such Principal Property is owned
on the date of the Senior Debt Indenture or is thereafter acquired, without in
any such case effectively providing that the senior debt securities shall be
secured equally and ratably with such Debt, except that the foregoing
restrictions shall not apply to:

- mortgages on property, shares of stock or indebtedness of any corporation
  existing at the time such corporation becomes a Consolidated Subsidiary;

- mortgages on property existing at the time of acquisition thereof, or to
  secure Debt incurred for the purpose of financing all or any part of the
  purchase price of such property, or to secure any Debt incurred prior to or
  within 120 days after the later of the acquisition, completion of construction
  or improvement or the commencement of commercial operation of such property,
  which Debt is incurred for the purpose of financing all or any part of the
  purchase price thereof or construction or improvements thereon;

- mortgages securing Debt owing by any Consolidated Subsidiary to Masco or
  another Consolidated Subsidiary;

- mortgages on property of a corporation existing at the time such corporation
  is merged or consolidated with us or a Consolidated Subsidiary or at the time
  of a sale, lease or other disposition of the properties of the corporation or
  firm as an entirety or substantially as an entirety to us or a Consolidated
  Subsidiary, provided that no such mortgage shall extend to any other Principal
  Property of Masco or any Consolidated Subsidiary or any shares of capital
  stock or any indebtedness of any Consolidated Subsidiary which owns or leases
  a Principal Property;

- mortgages on our property or a Consolidated Subsidiary's property in favor of
  the United States of America, any state thereof, or any other country, or any
  political subdivision of any thereof, to secure payments pursuant to any
  contract or statute, including Debt of the pollution control or industrial
  revenue bond type, or to secure any indebtedness incurred for the purpose of
  financing all or any part of the purchase price or the cost of construction of
  the property subject to such mortgages; or

- one or more extensions, renewals or replacements, in whole or in part, of
  mortgages existing at the date of the Senior Debt Indenture or any mortgage
  referred to in the preceding five bullet points as long as those

                                        9


  extensions, renewals or replacements do not increase the amount of Debt
  secured by the mortgage or cover any additional property.

     Notwithstanding the above, we may, and may permit any Consolidated
Subsidiary to, issue, assume or guarantee secured Debt which would otherwise be
subject to the foregoing restrictions, provided that after giving effect thereto
the total of the aggregate amount of such Debt then outstanding, excluding
secured Debt permitted under the foregoing exceptions, and the aggregate amount
of Attributable Debt in respect of sale and leaseback arrangements at such time,
does not exceed 5% of Consolidated Net Tangible Assets, determined as of a date
not more than 90 days prior thereto.

     The Subordinated Debt Indenture does not include negative pledge
provisions.

     Limitation on Sale and Leaseback Arrangements.  Under the Senior Debt
Indenture, we and our Consolidated Subsidiaries are not allowed to enter into
any sale and leaseback arrangement involving a Principal Property which has a
term of more than three years, except for sale and leaseback arrangements
between us and a Consolidated Subsidiary or between Consolidated Subsidiaries,
unless:

- we or the Consolidated Subsidiary could incur Debt secured by a mortgage on
  that Principal Property at least equal to the amount of Attributable Debt
  resulting from that sale and leaseback transaction without having to equally
  and ratably secure the senior debt securities in the manner described above
  under "Negative Pledge"; or

- we apply an amount equal to the greater of the net proceeds of the sale of the
  Principal Property or the fair market value of the Principal Property within
  120 days of the effective date of the sale and leaseback arrangement to the
  retirement of our or a Consolidated Subsidiary's Funded Debt, including the
  senior debt securities.

     However, we cannot satisfy the second test by retiring:

- Funded Debt that we were otherwise obligated to repay within the 120-day
  period;

- Funded Debt owned by us or by a Consolidated Subsidiary; or

- Funded Debt that is subordinated in right of payment to the senior debt
  securities.

     The Subordinated Debt Indenture does not include any limitations on sale
and leaseback arrangements.

     Consolidation, Merger or Sale of Assets. The Senior Debt Indenture provides
that we will not consolidate or merge with or into any other corporation and
will not sell or convey our property as an entirety, or substantially as an
entirety, to another corporation if, as a result of such action, any Principal
Property would become subject to a mortgage, unless either:

- such mortgage could be created pursuant to Section 10.04 of the Senior Debt
  Indenture without equally and ratably securing the senior debt securities; or

- the senior debt securities shall be secured prior to the Debt secured by such
  mortgage.

     Each of the indentures provides that we may consolidate or merge or sell
all or substantially all of our assets if:

- we are the continuing corporation or if we are not the continuing corporation,
  such continuing corporation is organized and existing under the laws of the
  United States of America or any state thereof or the District of Columbia and
  assumes by supplemental indenture the due and punctual payment of the
  principal of, and the premium, if any, and interest on the debt securities and
  the due and punctual performance and observance of all of the covenants and
  conditions of the applicable indenture to be performed by us; and

- we are not, or such continuing corporation is not, in default in the
  performance of any such covenant or condition immediately after such merger,
  consolidation or sale of assets.

                                        10


DEFINITIONS

     "Attributable Debt" in respect of a sale and leaseback arrangement is
defined in the Senior Debt Indenture to mean, at the time of determination, the
lesser of:

- the fair value of the property, as determined by our board of directors,
  subject to such arrangement; or

- the present value, discounted at the rate per annum equal to the interest
  borne by fixed rate senior debt securities or the yield to maturity at the
  time of issuance of any Original Issue Discount Securities determined on a
  weighted average basis, of the total obligations of the lessee for rental
  payments during the remaining term of the lease included in such arrangement,
  including any period for which such lease has been extended or may, at the
  option of the lessor, be extended, or until the earliest date on which the
  lessee may terminate such lease upon payment of a penalty, in which case the
  rental payment shall include such penalty, after excluding all amounts
  required to be paid on account of maintenance and repairs, insurance, taxes,
  assessments, water and utility rates and similar charges;

provided, however, that there shall not be deemed to be any Attributable Debt in
respect of a sale and leaseback arrangement if:

- such arrangement does not involve a Principal Property;

- we or a Consolidated Subsidiary would be entitled pursuant to the provisions
  of Section 10.04(a) of the Senior Debt Indenture to issue, assume or guarantee
  Debt secured by a mortgage upon the property involved in such arrangement
  without equally and ratably securing the senior debt securities; or

- the greater of the net proceeds of such arrangement or the fair market value
  of the property so leased has been applied to the retirement, other than any
  mandatory retirement or by way of payment at maturity, of our Funded Debt or
  any Consolidated Subsidiary's Funded Debt, other than Funded Debt owed by us
  or any Consolidated Subsidiary and other than Funded Debt which is
  subordinated in payment of principal or interest to the senior debt
  securities.

     "Consolidated Net Tangible Assets" is defined in the Senior Debt Indenture
as the aggregate amount of our assets less applicable reserves and the aggregate
amount of assets less applicable reserves of the Consolidated Subsidiaries after
deducting therefrom:

- all current liabilities, excluding any such liabilities deemed to be Funded
  Debt;

- all goodwill, trade names, trademarks, patents, unamortized debt discount and
  expense and other like intangibles; and

- all investments in any Subsidiary other than a Consolidated Subsidiary, in all
  cases computed in accordance with the generally accepted accounting principles
  and which under generally accepted accounting principles would appear on a
  consolidated balance sheet of Masco and its Consolidated Subsidiaries.

     "Consolidated Subsidiary" is defined in the Senior Debt Indenture to mean
each Subsidiary other than any Subsidiary the accounts of which:

- are not required by generally accepted accounting principles to be
  consolidated with our accounts for financial reporting purposes;

- were not consolidated with our accounts in our then most recent annual report
  to stockholders; and

- are not intended by us to be consolidated with our accounts in our next annual
  report to stockholders;

provided, however, that the term "Consolidated Subsidiary" shall not include:

- any Subsidiary which is principally engaged in

  - owning, leasing, dealing in or developing real property, or

                                        11


  - purchasing or financing accounts receivable, making loans, extending credit
    or other activities of a character conducted by a finance company, or

- any Subsidiary, substantially all of the business, properties or assets of
  which were acquired after the date of the Senior Debt Indenture whether by way
  of merger, consolidation, purchase or otherwise,

unless in each case our board of directors thereafter designates such Subsidiary
a Consolidated Subsidiary for the purposes of the Senior Debt Indenture.

     "Debt" is defined in the Senior Debt Indenture to mean any indebtedness for
money borrowed and any Funded Debt.

     "Funded Debt" is defined in the Senior Debt Indenture to mean indebtedness
maturing more than 12 months from the date of the determination thereof or
having a maturity of less than 12 months but renewable or extendible at the
option of the borrower beyond 12 months from the date of such determination:

- for money borrowed; or

- incurred in connection with the acquisition of property, to the extent that
  indebtedness in connection with acquisitions is represented by any notes,
  bonds, debentures or similar evidences of indebtedness, for which we or any
  Consolidated Subsidiary is directly or contingently liable or which is secured
  by our property or the property of a Consolidated Subsidiary.

     "Mortgage" is defined in the Senior Debt Indenture to mean a mortgage,
security interest, pledge, lien or other encumbrance.

     "Original Issue Discount Security" is defined in both indentures to mean
any debt security which provides for an amount less than the principal amount
thereof to be due and payable upon a declaration of acceleration of the maturity
thereof.

     "Principal Property" is defined in the Senior Debt Indenture to mean any
manufacturing plant or research or engineering facility located within the
United States of America or Puerto Rico owned or leased by us or any
Consolidated Subsidiary unless, in the opinion of our board of directors, such
plant or facility is not of material importance to the total business conducted
by us and our Consolidated Subsidiaries as an entirety.

     "Subsidiary" is defined in both indentures to mean any corporation of which
at least a majority of the outstanding stock having voting power under ordinary
circumstances to elect a majority of the board of directors of said corporation
shall at the time be owned by us, or by us and one or more Subsidiaries, or by
one or more Subsidiaries.

EVENTS OF DEFAULT, WAIVER AND NOTICE

     The indentures provide that the following events will be events of default
with respect to the debt securities of a series:

- we default in the payment of any interest on the debt securities of that
  series for more than 30 days;

- we default in the payment of any principal or premium on the debt securities
  of that series on the date that payment was due;

- we breach any of the other covenants applicable to that series of debt
  securities and that breach continues for more than 90 days after we receive
  notice from the trustee or the holders of at least 25% of the aggregate
  principal amount of debt securities of that series;

- we commence bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings or consent to any bankruptcy
  relief sought against us; or

- we become involved in involuntary bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings and an
  order for relief is entered against us, if that order remains in effect for
  more than 60 consecutive days.

     The trustee or the holders of 25% of the aggregate principal amount of debt
securities of a series may declare all of the debt securities of that series to
be due and payable immediately if

                                        12


an event of default with respect to a payment occurs. The trustee or the holders
of 25% of the aggregate principal amount of debt securities of each affected
series voting as one class may declare all of the debt securities of each
affected series due and payable immediately if an event of default with respect
to a breach of a covenant occurs. The trustee or the holders of 25% of the
aggregate principal amount of debt securities outstanding under the indenture
voting as one class may declare all of the debt securities outstanding under the
indenture due and payable immediately if a bankruptcy event of default occurs.
The holders of a majority of the aggregate principal amount of the debt
securities of the applicable series or number of series described in this
paragraph may annul a declaration or waive a past default except for a
continuing payment default. If any of the affected debt securities are Original
Issue Discount Securities, by principal amount we mean the amount that the
holders would be entitled to receive by the terms of that debt security if the
debt security were declared immediately due and payable.

     The holders of a majority in principal amount of the debt securities of any
or all series affected and then outstanding shall have the right to direct the
time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to
the applicable trustee under the indentures. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a
trustee shall have the right to decline to follow any such direction if such
trustee is advised by counsel that the action so directed may not lawfully be
taken or if such trustee determines that such action would be unjustly
prejudicial to the holders not taking part in such direction or would involve
such trustee in personal liability.

     Each indenture requires that we file a certificate each year with the
applicable trustee stating that there are no defaults under the indenture. Each
indenture permits the applicable trustee to withhold notice to holders of debt
securities of any default other than a payment default if the trustee considers
it in the best interests of the holders.

MODIFICATION OF INDENTURES

     We can enter into a supplemental indenture with the applicable trustee to
modify any provision of the applicable indenture or any series of debt
securities without obtaining the consent of the holders of any debt securities
if the modification does not adversely affect the holders in any material
respect. In addition, we can generally enter into a supplemental indenture with
the applicable trustee to modify any provision of the indenture or any series of
debt securities if we obtain the consent of the holders of a majority of the
aggregate principal amount of debt securities of each affected series voting as
one class. However, we need the consent of each affected holder in order to:

- change the date on which any payment of principal or interest on the debt
  security is due;

- reduce the amount of any principal, interest or premium due on any debt
  security;

- change the currency or location of any payment;

- impair the right of any holder to bring suit for any payment after its due
  date; or

- reduce the percentage in principal amount of debt securities required to
  consent to any modification or waiver of any provision of the indenture or the
  debt securities.

CONCERNING THE TRUSTEES

     Each trustee is a depository for funds of, makes loans to and performs
other services for us from time to time in the normal course of business.

FORM OF DEBT SECURITIES

     Each debt security will be represented either by a certificate issued in
definitive form to a particular investor or by one or more global securities
representing the entire issuance of securities issued at one time. Certificated
securities in definitive form and global securities will be issued in registered
form. Definitive securities name you or your nominee as the owner of

                                        13


the security and, in order to transfer or exchange these securities or to
receive payments other than interest or other interim payments, you or your
nominee must physically deliver the securities to the trustee, registrar, paying
agent or other agent, as applicable. Global securities name a depositary or its
nominee as the owner of the debt securities represented by the global
securities. The depositary maintains a computerized system that will reflect
each investor's beneficial ownership of the securities through an account
maintained by the investor with its broker/dealer, bank, trust company or other
representative, as we explain more fully below under "Global Securities."

GLOBAL SECURITIES

     We may issue the debt securities of any series in the form of one or more
fully registered global securities that will be deposited with a depositary or
with a nominee for a depositary identified in the prospectus supplement relating
to such series and registered in the name of the depositary or its nominee. In
that case, one or more global securities will be issued in a denomination or
aggregate denominations equal to the portion of the aggregate principal or face
amount of outstanding registered securities of the series to be represented by
such global securities. Unless and until the depositary exchanges a global
security in whole for securities in definitive registered form, the global
security may not be transferred except as a whole by the depositary to a nominee
of the depositary or by a nominee of the depositary to the depositary or another
nominee of the depositary or by the depositary or any of its nominees to a
successor of the depositary or a nominee of such successor.

     If not described below, any specific terms of the depositary arrangement
with respect to any portion of a series of securities to be represented by a
global security will be described in the prospectus supplement relating to such
series. We anticipate that the following provisions will apply to all depositary
arrangements.

     Ownership of beneficial interests in a global security will be limited to
persons that have accounts with the depositary for such global security
("participants") or persons that may hold interests through participants. Upon
the issuance of a global security, the depositary for such global security will
credit, on its book-entry registration and transfer system, the participants'
accounts with the respective principal or face amounts of the securities
represented by such global security beneficially owned by such participants. The
accounts to be credited shall be designated by any dealers, underwriters or
agents participating in the distribution of such securities. Ownership of
beneficial interests in such global security will be shown on, and the transfer
of such ownership interests will be effected only through, records maintained by
the depositary for such global security, with respect to interests of
participants, and on the records of participants, with respect to interests of
persons holding through participants. The laws of some states may require that
some purchasers of securities take physical delivery of such securities in
definitive form. Such limits and such laws may impair the ability to own,
transfer or pledge beneficial interests in global securities. So long as the
depositary for a global security, or its nominee, is the registered owner of
such global security, such depositary or such nominee, as the case may be, will
be considered the sole owner or holder of the debt securities represented by
such global security for all purposes under the indentures. Except as set forth
below, owners of beneficial interests in a global security will not be entitled
to have the securities represented by such global security registered in their
names, will not receive or be entitled to receive physical delivery of such
securities in definitive form and will not be considered the owners or holders
thereof under the indentures. Accordingly, each person owning a beneficial
interest in a global security must rely on the procedures of the depositary for
such global security and, if such person is not a participant, on the procedures
of the participant through which such person owns its interest, to exercise any
rights of a holder under either indenture. We understand that under existing
industry practices, if we request

                                        14


any action of holders or if an owner of a beneficial interest in a global
security desires to give or take any action which a holder is entitled to give
or take under either indenture, the depositary for such global security would
authorize the participants holding the relevant beneficial interests to give or
take such action, and such participants would authorize beneficial owners owning
through such participants to give or take such action or would otherwise act
upon the instructions of beneficial owners holding through them.

     Principal, premium, if any, and interest payments on debt securities
represented by a global security registered in the name of a depositary or its
nominee will be made to such depositary or its nominee, as the case may be, as
the registered owner of such global security. We and the trustees or any of our
or their agents will not have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of
the records relating to or payments made on account of beneficial ownership
interests in such global security or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing
any records relating to such beneficial ownership interests.

     We expect that the depositary for any debt securities represented by a
global security, upon receipt of any payment of principal, premium, interest or
other distribution of underlying securities or commodities to holders in respect
of such global security, will immediately credit participants' accounts in
amounts proportionate to their respective beneficial interests in such global
security as shown on the records of such depositary. We also expect that
payments by participants to owners of beneficial interests in such global
security held through such participants will be governed by standing customer
instructions and customary practices, as is now the case with the securities
held for the accounts of customers in bearer form or registered in "street
name," and will be the responsibility of such participants.

     If the depositary for any debt securities represented by a global security
is at any time unwilling or unable to continue as depositary or ceases to be a
clearing agency registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and we do
not appoint a successor depositary registered as a clearing agency under the
Exchange Act within 90 days, we will issue such debt securities in definitive
form in exchange for such global security. In addition, we may at any time and
in our sole discretion determine not to have any of the debt securities of a
series represented by one or more global securities and, in such event, will
issue debt securities of such series in definitive form in exchange for all of
the global security or securities representing such debt securities. Any
securities issued in definitive form in exchange for a global security will be
registered in such name or names as the depositary shall instruct the relevant
trustee. We expect that such instructions will be based upon directions received
by the depositary from participants with respect to ownership of beneficial
interests in such global security.

                          DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK

     The following description of the material terms of our capital stock is
based on the provisions of our amended and restated certificate of
incorporation. For more information as to how you can obtain a current copy of
our certificate of incorporation, see "Where You Can Find More Information."

     Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation authorizes the
issuance of one million shares of preferred stock, par value $1.00 per share and
1.4 billion shares of common stock, par value $1.00 per share.

PREFERRED STOCK

     We may issue preferred stock from time to time in one or more series,
without stockholder approval. Subject to limitations prescribed by law, our
board of directors is authorized to determine the voting powers, if any,
designations and powers, preferences and rights, and the qualifications,
limitations or restrictions

                                        15


thereof, for each series of preferred stock that may be issued and to fix the
number of shares of each such series.

     The prospectus supplement relating to any series of preferred stock will
describe the dividend rights of that series of preferred stock. Holders of
preferred stock of each series will be entitled to receive, when and as declared
by our board of directors out of funds legally available for the payment of
dividends, dividends, which may be cumulative or noncumulative, at the rate
determined by our board of directors for that series and set forth in the
prospectus supplement, as well as any further participation rights in dividend
distributions, if any. Dividends on the preferred stock will accrue from the
date fixed by our board of directors for that series. Unless we have declared
and paid in full all dividends payable on all of our outstanding preferred stock
for the current period, we will not be allowed to make any dividend payments on
our common stock.

     The terms, if any, on which preferred stock of any series may be redeemed
will be described in the related prospectus supplement. If we decide to redeem
fewer than all of the outstanding shares of preferred stock of any series, we
will determine the method of selecting which shares to redeem.

     The prospectus supplement relating to any series of preferred stock that is
convertible will state the terms on which shares of that series are convertible
into shares of another class of stock of Masco.

     In the event of our voluntary or involuntary liquidation, before any
distribution of assets will be made to the holders of our common stock, the
holders of the preferred stock of each series will be entitled to receive out of
our assets available for distribution to our shareholders the liquidation price
per share determined by our board of directors prior to the issuance of the
preferred stock of that series and described in the applicable prospectus
supplement as well as any declared and unpaid dividends on those shares. The
holders of all series of preferred stock are entitled to share ratably, in
accordance with the respective amounts payable on their shares, in any
distribution upon liquidation which is not sufficient to pay in full the
aggregate amounts payable on all of those shares.

     The preferred stock of a series issued pursuant to this Prospectus will not
be entitled to vote, except as provided in the applicable prospectus supplement,
unless required by applicable law. Unless otherwise indicated in the prospectus
supplement relating to a series of preferred stock, each share of a series will
be entitled to one vote on matters on which holders of that series are entitled
to vote.

     As of June 30, 2002, there were approximately 16,700 shares of series B
convertible preferred stock outstanding. These preferred shares are convertible
into approximately 16,700,000 shares of common stock, subject to adjustment.
Each share of series B preferred stock is entitled to receive the same dividends
as, and in general has voting rights equivalent to those of, the shares of
common stock into which such preferred stock is convertible. Shares of series B
preferred stock vote as a class as required by Delaware law and are subject to
certain restrictions on transfer.

COMMON STOCK

     Holders of common stock are entitled to one vote per share on matters to be
voted on by our stockholders and, subject to the rights of the holders of any
preferred stock of Masco then outstanding, to receive dividends, if any, when
declared by our board of directors in its discretion out of legally available
funds. Upon any liquidation or dissolution of Masco, holders of common stock are
entitled to receive pro rata all assets remaining after payment of all
liabilities and liquidation of any shares of any preferred stock at the time
outstanding. Holders of common stock have no preemptive or other subscription
rights, and there are no conversion rights or redemption or sinking fund
provisions with respect to common stock. As of June 30, 2002, there were
approximately 484,490,000 shares of our common stock outstanding and
approximately 20,775,000 shares reserved for issuance upon exercise of
outstanding stock

                                        16


options. All of our outstanding common stock is fully paid and non-assessable
and all of the shares of common stock that may be offered with this prospectus
will be fully paid and non-assessable.

     The transfer agent and registrar for our common stock is The Bank of New
York, New York, New York.

STOCKHOLDER RIGHTS AGREEMENT

     We have a stockholder rights agreement which provides that each share of
our outstanding common stock has one-half of one right to purchase one
one-thousandth of a share of preferred stock. The purchase price per one
one-thousandth of a preferred share under the stockholder rights agreement is
$100. Our board of directors may, at its option, redeem all of the outstanding
rights at a redemption price of $0.01 per right, subject to adjustment, prior to
the time that an acquiring person obtains 15% or more of our outstanding common
stock. The rights will expire on December 6, 2005 unless earlier redeemed or
exchanged by us.

     The rights under our stockholder rights agreement are evidenced by the
outstanding certificates representing our common stock but will be represented
by separate certificates approximately 10 days after someone, other than we or
any of our subsidiaries or employee benefit plans, acquires at least 15% of our
outstanding common stock, or approximately 10 days after someone commences a
tender offer that would result in that person owning at least 15% of our
outstanding common stock.

     If an acquiring person obtains or has the right to obtain at least 15% of
our outstanding common stock, then each right will entitle the holder to
purchase for $100 either a number of shares of our common stock having a then
current market value of $200 or a number of shares of common stock of the
acquiring person having a then current market value of $200. After an acquiring
person obtains 15% or more, but less than 50%, of our outstanding common stock,
our board of directors may, at its option, exchange all or part of the then
outstanding and exercisable rights for shares of our common stock, at an
exchange ratio of two shares of common stock per right. Any rights obtained by a
person acquiring at least 15% of our outstanding common stock will be null and
void.

     Our stockholder rights agreement has anti-takeover effects. The rights may
cause substantial dilution to a person or group that attempts to acquire us
without conditioning the offer on a substantial number of rights being acquired,
redeemed or declared invalid. Accordingly, the existence of the rights may deter
acquirors from making takeover proposals or tender offers. However, the rights
are not intended to prevent a takeover, but rather are designed to enhance the
ability of our board of directors to negotiate with an acquiror on behalf of all
of the stockholders. In addition, the rights should not interfere with a proxy
contest.

                        DESCRIPTION OF DEPOSITARY SHARES

     We may, at our option, elect to offer fractional shares of preferred stock
rather than full shares of preferred stock. If we exercise this option, we will
issue to the public receipts for depositary shares, and each of these depositary
shares will represent a fraction (to be set forth in the applicable prospectus
supplement) of a share of a particular series of preferred stock.

     The shares of any series of preferred stock underlying the depositary
shares will be deposited under a deposit agreement between us and a bank or
trust company selected by us. The depositary will have its principal office in
the United States and a combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000.
Subject to the terms of the deposit agreement, each owner of a depositary share
will be entitled, in proportion to the applicable fraction of a share of
preferred

                                        17


stock underlying the depositary share, to all of the rights and preferences of
the preferred stock underlying that depositary share. Those rights may include
dividend, voting, redemption, conversion and liquidation rights.

     The depositary shares will be evidenced by depositary receipts issued under
a deposit agreement. Depositary receipts will be distributed to those persons
purchasing the fractional shares of preferred stock underlying the depositary
shares, in accordance with the terms of the offering. The following description
of the material terms of the deposit agreement, the depositary shares and the
depositary receipts is only a summary and you should refer to the forms of the
deposit agreement and depositary receipts that will be filed with the SEC in
connection with the offering of the specific depositary shares.

     Pending the preparation of definitive engraved depositary receipts, the
depositary may, upon our written order, issue temporary depositary receipts
substantially identical to the definitive depositary receipts but not in
definitive form. These temporary depositary receipts entitle their holders to
all of the rights of definitive depositary receipts. Temporary depositary
receipts will then be exchangeable for definitive depositary receipts at our
expense.

     Dividends and Other Distributions. The depositary will distribute all cash
dividends or other cash distributions received with respect to the underlying
stock to the record holders of depositary shares in proportion to the number of
depositary shares owned by those holders.

     If there is a distribution other than in cash, the depositary will
distribute property received by it to the record holders of depositary shares
that are entitled to receive the distribution, unless the depositary determines
that it is not feasible to make the distribution. If this occurs, the depositary
may, with our approval, sell the property and distribute the net proceeds from
the sale to the applicable holders.

     Withdrawal of Underlying Preferred Stock. Unless we say otherwise in a
prospectus supplement, holders may surrender depositary receipts at the
principal office of the depositary and, upon payment of any unpaid amount due to
the depositary, be entitled to receive the number of whole shares of underlying
preferred stock and all money and other property represented by the related
depositary shares. We will not issue any partial shares of preferred stock. If
the holder delivers depositary receipts evidencing a number of depositary shares
that represent more than a whole number of shares of preferred stock, the
depositary will issue a new depositary receipt evidencing the excess number of
depositary shares to that holder.

     Redemption of Depositary Shares. If a series of preferred stock represented
by depositary shares is subject to redemption, the depositary shares will be
redeemed from the proceeds received by the depositary resulting from the
redemption, in whole or in part, of that series of underlying stock held by the
depositary. The redemption price per depositary share will be equal to the
applicable fraction of the redemption price per share payable with respect to
that series of underlying stock. Whenever we redeem shares of underlying stock
that are held by the depositary, the depositary will redeem, as of the same
redemption date, the number of depositary shares representing the shares of
underlying stock so redeemed. If fewer than all of the depositary shares are to
be redeemed, the depositary shares to be redeemed will be selected by lot or
proportionately, as may be determined by the depositary.

     Voting. Upon receipt of notice of any meeting at which the holders of the
underlying stock are entitled to vote, the depositary will mail the information
contained in the notice to the record holders of the depositary shares
underlying the preferred stock. Each record holder of the depositary shares on
the record date (which will be the same date as the record date for the
underlying stock) will be entitled to instruct the depositary as to the exercise
of the voting rights pertaining to the amount of the underlying stock
represented by that holder's depositary shares. The depositary will then try, as
far as practicable, to vote the number of shares of preferred stock underlying
those depositary shares in accordance with those instructions, and we will agree
to take all

                                        18


actions which may be deemed necessary by the depositary to enable the depositary
to do so. The depositary will not vote the underlying shares to the extent it
does not receive specific instructions with respect to the depositary shares
representing the preferred stock.

     Conversion of Preferred Stock. If the prospectus supplement relating to the
depositary shares says that the deposited preferred stock is convertible into
common stock or shares of another series of preferred stock of Masco, the
following will apply. The depositary shares, as such, will not be convertible
into any securities of Masco. Rather, any holder of the depositary shares may
surrender the related depositary receipts to the depositary with written
instructions to instruct us to cause conversion of the preferred stock
represented by the depositary shares into or for whole shares of common stock or
shares of another series of preferred stock of Masco, as applicable. Upon
receipt of those instructions and any amounts payable by the holder in
connection with the conversion, we will cause the conversion using the same
procedures as those provided for conversion of the deposited preferred stock. If
only some of the depositary shares are to be converted, a new depositary receipt
or receipts will be issued for any depositary shares not to be converted.

     Amendment and Termination of the Deposit Agreement. The form of depositary
receipt evidencing the depositary shares and any provision of the deposit
agreement may at any time be amended by agreement between us and the depositary.
However, any amendment which materially and adversely alters the rights of the
holders of depositary shares will not be effective unless the amendment has been
approved by the holders of at least a majority of the depositary shares then
outstanding. The deposit agreement may be terminated by us or by the depositary
only if (a) all outstanding depositary shares have been redeemed or converted
for any other securities into which the underlying preferred stock is
convertible or (b) there has been a final distribution of the underlying stock
in connection with our liquidation, dissolution or winding up and the underlying
stock has been distributed to the holders of depositary receipts.

     Charges of Depositary. We will pay all transfer and other taxes and
governmental charges arising solely from the existence of the depositary
arrangements. We will also pay charges of the depositary in connection with the
initial deposit of the underlying stock and any redemption of the underlying
stock. Holders of depositary receipts will pay other transfer and other taxes
and governmental charges and those other charges, including a fee for any
permitted withdrawal of shares of underlying stock upon surrender of depositary
receipts, as are expressly provided in the deposit agreement to be for their
accounts.

     Reports. The depositary will forward to holders of depositary receipts all
reports and communications from us that we deliver to the depositary and that we
are required to furnish to the holders of the underlying stock.

     Limitation on Liability. Neither we nor the depositary will be liable if
either of us is prevented or delayed by law or any circumstance beyond our
control in performing our respective obligations under the deposit agreement.
Our obligations and those of the depositary will be limited to performance in
good faith of our respective duties under the deposit agreement. Neither we nor
the depositary will be obligated to prosecute or defend any legal proceeding in
respect of any depositary shares or underlying stock unless satisfactory
indemnity is furnished. We and the depositary may rely upon written advice of
counsel or accountants, or upon information provided by persons presenting
underlying stock for deposit, holders of depositary receipts or other persons
believed to be competent and on documents believed to be genuine.

     Resignation and Removal of Depositary. The depositary may resign at any
time by delivering notice to us of its election to resign. We may remove the
depositary at any time. Any resignation or removal will take effect upon the
appointment of a successor depositary and its acceptance of the appointment. The
successor depositary must be appointed within 60 days after delivery of the
notice of resignation or removal and must be a bank or trust

                                        19


company having its principal office in the United States and having a combined
capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000.

        DESCRIPTION OF SHARE PURCHASE CONTRACTS AND SHARE PURCHASE UNITS

     We may issue share purchase contracts representing contracts obligating
holders to purchase from us, and us to sell to the holders, shares of our common
stock at a future date or dates. The price per share of common stock and the
number of shares of common stock may be fixed at the time the share purchase
contracts are issued or may be determined by reference to a specific formula set
forth in the share purchase contracts and described in the applicable prospectus
supplement.

     The share purchase contracts may be issued separately or as a part of share
purchase units consisting of a share purchase contract and:

- our debt securities,

- our preferred stock, or

- debt obligations of third parties, including U.S. Government securities;

in each case, securing the holders' obligations to purchase the common stock
under the share purchase contracts.

     The share purchase contracts may require us to make periodic payments to
the holders of the share purchase units or vice versa, and those payments may be
unsecured or prefunded on some basis. The share purchase contracts may require
holders to secure their obligations in a specified manner and, in certain
circumstances, we may deliver newly issued prepaid share purchase contracts,
often known as prepaid securities, upon release to a holder of any collateral
securing such holder's obligations under the original share purchase contract.

     The applicable prospectus supplement will describe the material terms of
any share purchase contracts or share purchase units and, if applicable, prepaid
securities. The description in the applicable prospectus supplement will not
contain all of the information that you may find useful. For more information,
you should review the share purchase contracts, the collateral arrangements and
depositary arrangements, if applicable, relating to such share purchase
contracts or share purchase units and, if applicable the prepaid securities and
the document pursuant to which the prepaid securities will be issued. These
documents will be filed with the SEC promptly after the offering of the share
purchase contracts or share purchase units. Material United States federal
income tax considerations applicable to the share purchase contracts and the
share purchase units will also be discussed in the applicable prospectus
supplement.

                              PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

     We may sell the securities being offered by this prospectus in four ways:

- directly to purchasers;

- through agents;

- through underwriters; and

- through dealers.

     We may directly solicit offers to purchase securities, or we may designate
agents to solicit such offers. We will, in the prospectus supplement relating to
such offering, name any agent that could be viewed as an underwriter under the
Securities Act of 1933 and describe any commissions we must pay. Any such agent
will be acting on a best efforts basis for the period of its appointment or, if
indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, on a firm

                                        20


commitment basis. Agents, dealers and underwriters may be customers of, engage
in transactions with, or perform services for us in the ordinary course of
business.

     As one of the means of direct issuance of securities, we may utilize the
services of any available electronic auction system to conduct an electronic
"dutch auction" of the offered securities among potential purchasers who are
eligible to participate in the auction of those offered securities, if so
described in the prospectus supplement.

     If any underwriters are utilized in the sale of the securities in respect
of which this prospectus is delivered, we will enter into an underwriting
agreement with them at the time of sale to them and we will set forth in the
prospectus supplement relating to such offering their names and the terms of our
agreement with them.

     If a dealer is utilized in the sale of the securities in respect of which
the prospectus is delivered, we will sell such securities to the dealer, as
principal. The dealer may then resell such securities to the public at varying
prices to be determined by such dealer at the time of resale.

     Remarketing firms, agents, underwriters and dealers may be entitled under
agreements which they may enter into with us to indemnification by us against
some types of civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act
of 1933, and may be customers of, engage in transactions with or perform
services for us in the ordinary course of business.

     If we so indicate in the prospectus supplement, we will authorize agents,
underwriters or dealers to solicit offers by the types of purchasers specified
in the prospectus supplement to purchase offered securities from us at the
public offering price set forth in the prospectus supplement pursuant to delayed
delivery contracts providing for payment and delivery on a specified date in the
future. Such contracts will be subject to only those conditions set forth in the
prospectus supplement, and the prospectus supplement will set forth the
commission payable for solicitation of such offers.

                                 LEGAL OPINIONS

     The legality of the securities in respect of which this prospectus is being
delivered will be passed on for us by John R. Leekley, Senior Vice President and
General Counsel of Masco, and for the underwriters, if any, by Davis Polk &
Wardwell, 450 Lexington Avenue, New York, New York 10017. Mr. Leekley is a Masco
stockholder and a holder of options to purchase shares of our common stock.
Davis Polk & Wardwell performs legal services from time to time for us and some
of our related companies.

                                    EXPERTS

     The financial statements incorporated in this prospectus by reference to
the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2001, have been
so incorporated in reliance on the report of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP,
independent accountants, given on the authority of said firm as experts in
auditing and accounting.

                      WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

     We have filed this prospectus as part of a registration statement on Form
S-3 with the SEC. The registration statement contains exhibits and other
information that are not contained in this prospectus. In particular, the
registration statement includes as exhibits

                                        21


copies of the forms of our senior debt and subordinated debt indentures. Our
descriptions in this prospectus of the provisions of documents filed as exhibits
to the registration statement or otherwise filed with the SEC are only summaries
of the documents' material terms. If you want a complete description of the
content of the documents, you should obtain the documents by following the
procedures described in the paragraph below.

     We file annual, quarterly and special reports and other information with
the SEC. You may read and copy any document we file at the SEC's Public
Reference Room located at 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549. Please
call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information on the Public Reference
Rooms. You may also read our SEC filings, including the complete registration
statement and all of the exhibits to it, through the SEC's web site at
www.sec.gov.

     The SEC allows us to "incorporate by reference" much of the information we
file with them, which means that we can disclose important information to you by
referring you directly to those publicly available documents. The information
incorporated by reference is considered to be part of this prospectus. In
addition, information we file with the SEC in the future will automatically
update and supersede information contained in this prospectus and the
accompanying prospectus supplement.

     We incorporate by reference the documents listed below and any future
filings made with the SEC under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 until we sell all of the securities we are
offering with this prospectus:

- Our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2001;

- Our Current Reports on Form 8-K dated May 14, 2002, June 19, 2002, June 27,
  2002, July 30, 2002, August 20, 2002, September 18, 2002, September 19, 2002,
  October 4, 2002 and October 16, 2002

- Our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2002 and
  June 30, 2002; and

- The description of our common stock contained in the amendment on Form 8 dated
  May 22, 1991 to our registration statement on Form 8-A and the description of
  our preferred stock purchase rights contained in the amendment on Form
  8-A12B/A dated March 18, 1999 to our registration statement on Form 8-A.

     You may obtain free copies of any of these documents by writing or
telephoning us at 21001 Van Born Road, Taylor, Michigan, 48180, Attention:
Samuel Cypert, Vice President, Investor Relations, (313) 274-7400, or by
visiting our web site at www.masco.com. However, the information on our website
is not a part of this prospectus.

                                        22


                                    PART II.

                    INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS.

ITEM 14. OTHER EXPENSES OF ISSUANCE AND DISTRIBUTION.

     The following expenses will be paid by the Registrant:


                                                             
Securities and Exchange Commission registration fee.........    $184,000
Legal fees and expenses.....................................      45,000
Accountants' fees...........................................     100,000
Trustees' fees and expenses.................................      50,000
Printing and engraving expenses.............................      50,000
Rating agency fees..........................................     160,000
Miscellaneous...............................................      12,500
                                                                --------
Total.......................................................    $601,500*
                                                                ========


-------------------------
* All amounts other than the Securities and Exchange Commission registration fee
  are estimated.

ITEM 15. INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS.

     Section 145 of the General Corporation Law of Delaware empowers the Company
to indemnify, subject to the standards therein prescribed, any person in
connection with any action, suit or proceeding brought or threatened by reason
of the fact that such person is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of
the Company or is or was serving as such with respect to another corporation or
other entity at the request of the Company. Article Fifteenth of the Company's
Restated Certificate of Incorporation provides that each person who was or is
made a party to (or is threatened to be made a party to) or is otherwise
involved in any action, suit or proceeding by reason of the fact that such
person is or was a director, officer or employee of the Company shall be
indemnified and held harmless by the Company to the fullest extent authorized by
the General Corporation Law of Delaware against all expense, liability and loss
(including without limitation attorneys' fees, judgments, fines and amounts paid
in settlement) reasonably incurred or suffered by such person in connection
therewith. The rights conferred by Article Fifteenth are contractual rights and
include the right to be paid by the Company the expenses incurred in defending
such action, suit or proceeding in advance of the final disposition thereof.

     Article Fourteenth of the Company's Restated Certificate of Incorporation
provides that the Company's directors will not be personally liable to the
Company or its stockholders for monetary damages resulting from breaches of
their fiduciary duty as directors, except for liability (a) for any breach of
the director's duty of loyalty to the Company or its stockholders, (b) for acts
or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a
knowing violation of law, (c) under Section 174 of the General Corporation Law
of Delaware, which makes directors liable for unlawful dividends or unlawful
stock repurchases or redemptions, or (d) for transactions from which the
director derived improper personal benefit.

     The Company's directors and officers are covered by insurance policies
indemnifying them against certain civil liabilities, including liabilities under
the federal securities laws (other than liability under Section 16(b) of the
Exchange Act), which might be incurred by them in such capacities.

                                       II-1


ITEM 16. EXHIBITS

     The following Exhibits are filed as part of this Registration Statement:


             
Exhibit 1.1     Form of Underwriting Agreement (Debt Securities).(1)
Exhibit 1.2     Form of Underwriting Agreement (Common Stock).(1)
Exhibit 3.1     Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Masco
                Corporation.(7)
Exhibit 3.2     Bylaws of Masco Corporation, as amended.(2)
Exhibit 4.1     Rights Agreement dated as of December 6, 1995, between Masco
                Corporation and The Bank of New York, as Rights Agent, as
                amended by Amendment No. 1 dated as of September 23,
                1998.(3)
Exhibit 4.2     Senior Debt Indenture dated as of February 12, 2001 between
                Masco Corporation and Bank One Trust Company, National
                Association, as Trustee.(4)
Exhibit 4.3     Form of Subordinated Debt Indenture between Masco
                Corporation and The Bank of New York, as Trustee.(5)
Exhibit 4.4     Form of Deposit Agreement re: depositary shares (including
                form of depositary receipt).(7)
Exhibit 5       Opinion of John R. Leekley.*
Exhibit 12      Statement of Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Combined
                Fixed Charges and Preferred Stock Dividends.(6)
Exhibit 23.1    Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP relating to the
                consolidated financial statements and financial statement
                schedule of Masco Corporation.*
Exhibit 23.2    Consent of John R. Leekley, which is included as part of
                Exhibit 5.
Exhibit 24      Powers of Attorney, which appear on the signature pages of
                this Registration Statement.*
Exhibit 25.1    Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility under the Trust Indenture
                Act of 1939 of Bank One Trust Company, National
                Association.*
Exhibit 25.2    Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility under the Trust Indenture
                Act of 1939 of The Bank of New York.*


-------------------------
 *  Filed herewith.

(1) Incorporated herein by reference to the Exhibits filed with Masco
    Corporation's Registration Statement on Form S-3 (File No. 33-53330),
    effective October 15, 1992.

(2) Incorporated herein by reference to the Exhibits filed with Masco
    Corporation's Registration Statement on Form S-8 (File No. 333-75362),
    effective December 18, 2001.

(3) Incorporated herein by reference to the Exhibits filed with Masco
    Corporation's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31,
    2000.

(4) Incorporated herein by reference to the Exhibits filed with Masco
    Corporation's Registration Statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-58034),
    effective April 24, 2001.

(5) Incorporated herein by reference to the Exhibits filed with Masco
    Corporation's Registration Statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-40122),
    effective November 1, 2000.

(6) Incorporated herein by reference to the Exhibits filed with Masco
    Corporation's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30,
    2002.

(7) Incorporated herein by reference to the Exhibits filed with Masco
    Corporation's Registration Statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-73802),
    effective January 8, 2002.

                                       II-2


ITEM 17. UNDERTAKINGS

     1. The Company hereby undertakes:

          (1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being
     made, a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement:

             (i) To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the
        Securities Act of 1933;

             (ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after
        the effective date of the Registration Statement (or the most recent
        post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the
        aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth
        in the Registration Statement; and

             (iii) To include any material information with respect to the plan
        of distribution not previously disclosed in the Registration Statement
        or any material change to such information in the Registration
        Statement;

provided, however, that paragraphs (1)(i) and (1)(ii) do not apply if the
information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by these
paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed with the SEC by the Company
pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
that are incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement.

          (2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the
     Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed
     to be a new Registration Statement relating to the securities offered
     therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed
     to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

          (3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment
     any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the
     termination of the offering.

     2. The Company hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any
liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the Company's annual
report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934 that is incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement shall be
deemed to be a new Registration Statement relating to the securities offered
therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be
the initial bona fide offering thereof.

     3. Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities
Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of
the Company pursuant to the provisions referred to in Item 15 above, or
otherwise (other than the insurance policies referred to in Item 15), the
Company has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange
Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act
and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification
against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Company of expenses
incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the Company in
the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such
director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being
registered, the Company will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter
has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate
jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public
policy as expressed in that Act and will be governed by the final adjudication
of such issue.

                                       II-3


                                   SIGNATURES

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant
certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the
requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this Registration
Statement amendment to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto
duly authorized, in the City of Taylor, State of Michigan, on the 18th day of
October, 2002.

                                          MASCO CORPORATION

                                          By: /s/ TIMOTHY WADHAMS
                                            ------------------------------------
                                              Timothy Wadhams
                                              Vice President and Chief Financial
                                              Officer

                               POWER OF ATTORNEY

     KNOWN ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears
below constitutes and appoints Richard A. Manoogian and Timothy Wadhams and each
of them, as his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, each with full
power of substitution and resubstitution, for him and in his name, place and
stead, in any and all capacities, to sign (i) any and all amendments, including
post-effective amendments, to this Registration Statement and (ii) a
registration statement, and any and all amendments thereto, relating to the
offering covered hereby filed pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act
of 1933, and to file the same, with exhibits thereto and other documents in
connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto
said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to
do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done,
as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or would do in person, hereby
ratifying and confirming all that each of said attorneys-in-fact and agents or
any of them or their substitute or substitutes may lawfully do or cause to be
done by virtue hereof.

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
Registration Statement amendment has been signed by the following persons in the
capacities and on the date indicated.



               SIGNATURE                                     TITLE                            DATE
               ---------                                     -----                            ----
                                                                                  

PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICER:

/s/ RICHARD A. MANOOGIAN                   Chairman and Chief Executive Officer and     October 18, 2002
---------------------------------------    Director
Richard A. Manoogian

PRINCIPAL FINANCIAL OFFICER AND
  PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING OFFICER:

/s/ TIMOTHY WADHAMS                        Vice President and Chief Financial           October 18, 2002
---------------------------------------    Officer
Timothy Wadhams

/s/ THOMAS G. DENOMME                      Director                                     October 18, 2002
---------------------------------------
Thomas G. Denomme


                                       II-4




               SIGNATURE                                     TITLE                            DATE
               ---------                                     -----                            ----
                                                                                  
/s/ PETER A. DOW                           Director                                     October 18, 2002
---------------------------------------
Peter A. Dow

/s/ ANTHONY F. EARLEY, JR.                 Director                                     October 18, 2002
---------------------------------------
Anthony F. Earley, Jr.

/s/ VERNE G. ISTOCK                        Director                                     October 18, 2002
---------------------------------------
Verne G. Istock

/s/ RAYMOND F. KENNEDY                     President and Chief Operating Officer and    October 18, 2002
---------------------------------------    Director
Raymond F. Kennedy

/s/ WAYNE B. LYON                          Director                                     October 18, 2002
---------------------------------------
Wayne B. Lyon

/s/ MARY ANN VAN LOKEREN                   Director                                     October 18, 2002
---------------------------------------
Mary Ann Van Lokeren


                                       II-5


                                 EXHIBIT INDEX



EXHIBIT NO.                             DESCRIPTION
-----------                             -----------
             
Exhibit 1.1     Form of Underwriting Agreement (Debt Securities).(1)
Exhibit 1.2     Form of Underwriting Agreement (Common Stock).(1)
Exhibit 3.1     Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Masco
                Corporation.(7)
Exhibit 3.2     Bylaws of Masco Corporation, as amended.(2)
Exhibit 4.1     Rights Agreement dated as of December 6, 1995, between Masco
                Corporation and The Bank of New York, as Rights Agent, as
                amended by Amendment No. 1 dated as of September 23,
                1998.(3)
Exhibit 4.2     Senior Debt Indenture dated as of February 12, 2001 between
                Masco Corporation and Bank One Trust Company, National
                Association, as Trustee.(4)
Exhibit 4.3     Form of Subordinated Debt Indenture between Masco
                Corporation and The Bank of New York, as Trustee.(5)
Exhibit 4.4     Form of Deposit Agreement re: depositary shares (including
                form of depositary receipt).(7)
Exhibit 5       Opinion of John R. Leekley.*
Exhibit 12      Statement of Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Combined
                Fixed Charges and Preferred Stock Dividends.(6)
Exhibit 23.1    Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP relating to the
                consolidated financial statements and financial statement
                schedule of Masco Corporation.*
Exhibit 23.2    Consent of John R. Leekley, which is included as part of
                Exhibit 5.
Exhibit 24      Powers of Attorney, which appear on the signature pages of
                this Registration Statement.*
Exhibit 25.1    Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility under the Trust Indenture
                Act of 1939 of Bank One Trust Company, National
                Association.*
Exhibit 25.2    Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility under the Trust Indenture
                Act of 1939 of The Bank of New York.*


-------------------------
 *  Filed herewith.

(1) Incorporated herein by reference to the Exhibits filed with Masco
    Corporation's Registration Statement on Form S-3 (File No. 33-53330),
    effective October 15, 1992.

(2) Incorporated herein by reference to the Exhibits filed with Masco
    Corporation's Registration Statement on Form S-8 (File No. 333-75362),
    effective December 18, 2001.

(3) Incorporated herein by reference to the Exhibits filed with Masco
    Corporation's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31,
    2000.

(4) Incorporate herein by reference to the Exhibits filed with Masco
    Corporation's Registration Statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-58034),
    effective April 24, 2001.

(5) Incorporated by reference to the Exhibits filed with Masco Corporation's
    Registration Statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-40122), effective November
    1, 2000.

(6) Incorporated herein by reference to the Exhibits filed with Masco
    Corporation's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30,
    2002.

(7) Incorporated herein by reference to the Exhibits filed with Masco
    Corporation's Registration Statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-73802),
    effective January 8, 2002.

                                       II-6