<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><edgarSubmission xmlns="http://www.sec.gov/edgar/ownership" xmlns:ns2="http://www.sec.gov/edgar/common">
    <headerData>
        <submissionType>144</submissionType>
        <filerInfo>
            <filer>
                <filerCredentials>
                    <cik>0001681628</cik>
                    <ccc>XXXXXXXX</ccc>
                </filerCredentials>
            </filer>
            <liveTestFlag>LIVE</liveTestFlag>



        </filerInfo>
    </headerData>
    <formData>
        <issuerInfo>
            <issuerCik>0000815556</issuerCik>
            <issuerName>FASTENAL COMPANY</issuerName>
            <secFileNumber>000-16125</secFileNumber>
            <issuerAddress>
                <ns2:street1>2001 Theurer Blvd</ns2:street1>
                <ns2:city>Winona</ns2:city>
                <ns2:stateOrCountry>MN</ns2:stateOrCountry>
                <ns2:zipCode>55987-1500</ns2:zipCode>
            </issuerAddress>
            <issuerContactPhone>507-454-5374</issuerContactPhone>
            <nameOfPersonForWhoseAccountTheSecuritiesAreToBeSold>HOLDEN LEWIS</nameOfPersonForWhoseAccountTheSecuritiesAreToBeSold>
            <relationshipsToIssuer>
                <relationshipToIssuer>Officer</relationshipToIssuer>
            </relationshipsToIssuer>
        </issuerInfo>
        <securitiesInformation>
            <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
            <brokerOrMarketmakerDetails>
                <name>Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC Executive Financial Services</name>
                <address>
                    <ns2:street1>1 New York Plaza</ns2:street1>
                    <ns2:street2>8th Floor</ns2:street2>
                    <ns2:city>New York</ns2:city>
                    <ns2:stateOrCountry>NY</ns2:stateOrCountry>
                    <ns2:zipCode>10004</ns2:zipCode>
                </address>
            </brokerOrMarketmakerDetails>
            <noOfUnitsSold>30000</noOfUnitsSold>
            <aggregateMarketValue>2295684.00</aggregateMarketValue>
            <noOfUnitsOutstanding>572881159</noOfUnitsOutstanding>
            <approxSaleDate>10/14/2024</approxSaleDate>
            <securitiesExchangeName>NASDAQ</securitiesExchangeName>
        </securitiesInformation>
        <securitiesToBeSold>
            <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
            <acquiredDate>10/14/2024</acquiredDate>
            <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>Stock Option Exercise</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
            <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>Issuer</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
            <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
            <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>30000</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
            <paymentDate>10/14/2024</paymentDate>
            <natureOfPayment>Cash</natureOfPayment>
        </securitiesToBeSold>
        <nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>Y</nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>
        <remarks>Sales that were executed on October 14, 2024 are being reported on this Form 144 filed on October 15, 2024 given the EDGAR system was not accepting filings on October 14, 2024 in observance of the federal holiday. </remarks>
        <noticeSignature>
            <noticeDate>10/15/2024</noticeDate>
            <planAdoptionDates/>
            <signature>/s/ Holden Lewis</signature>
        </noticeSignature>
    </formData>
</edgarSubmission>
[{"type": "144", "sequence": "1", "filename": "primary_doc.xml", "secsgml_size_bytes": 3442}]
144
0001681628
XXXXXXXX
LIVE
0000815556
FASTENAL COMPANY
000-16125
2001 Theurer Blvd
Winona
MN
55987-1500
507-454-5374
HOLDEN LEWIS
Officer
Common
Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC Executive Financial Services
1 New York Plaza
8th Floor
New York
NY
10004
30000
2295684.00
572881159
10/14/2024
NASDAQ
Common
10/14/2024
Stock Option Exercise
Issuer
N
30000
10/14/2024
Cash
Y
Sales that were executed on October 14, 2024 are being reported on this Form 144 filed on October 15, 2024 given the EDGAR system was not accepting filings on October 14, 2024 in observance of the federal holiday.
10/15/2024
/s/ Holden Lewis