<?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>0001017427</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>DANIEL L. FLORNESS</nameOfPersonForWhoseAccountTheSecuritiesAreToBeSold>
            <relationshipsToIssuer>
                <relationshipToIssuer>Officer</relationshipToIssuer>
                <relationshipToIssuer>Director</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>31818</noOfUnitsSold>
            <aggregateMarketValue>2688691.00</aggregateMarketValue>
            <noOfUnitsOutstanding>572886495</noOfUnitsOutstanding>
            <approxSaleDate>11/11/2024</approxSaleDate>
            <securitiesExchangeName>NASDAQ</securitiesExchangeName>
        </securitiesInformation>
        <securitiesToBeSold>
            <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
            <acquiredDate>11/11/2024</acquiredDate>
            <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>Stock Option Exercise</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
            <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>Issuer</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
            <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
            <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>31818</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
            <paymentDate>11/11/2024</paymentDate>
            <natureOfPayment>Cash</natureOfPayment>
        </securitiesToBeSold>
        <nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>N</nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>
        <securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
            <sellerDetails>
                <name>DANIEL L. FLORNESS</name>
                <address>
                    <ns2:street1>2001 Theurer Blvd</ns2:street1>
                    <ns2:city>Winona</ns2:city>
                    <ns2:stateOrCountry>MN</ns2:stateOrCountry>
                    <ns2:zipCode>55987-1500</ns2:zipCode>
                </address>
            </sellerDetails>
            <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
            <saleDate>11/11/2024</saleDate>
            <amountOfSecuritiesSold>31818</amountOfSecuritiesSold>
            <grossProceeds>2688691.00</grossProceeds>
        </securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
        <securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
            <sellerDetails>
                <name>DANIEL LARS FLORNESS</name>
                <address>
                    <ns2:street1>2001 Theurer Blvd</ns2:street1>
                    <ns2:city>Winona</ns2:city>
                    <ns2:stateOrCountry>MN</ns2:stateOrCountry>
                    <ns2:zipCode>55987-1500</ns2:zipCode>
                </address>
            </sellerDetails>
            <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
            <saleDate>09/12/2024</saleDate>
            <amountOfSecuritiesSold>50000</amountOfSecuritiesSold>
            <grossProceeds>3484050.00</grossProceeds>
        </securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
        <securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
            <sellerDetails>
                <name>DANIEL LARS FLORNESS</name>
                <address>
                    <ns2:street1>2001 Theurer Blvd</ns2:street1>
                    <ns2:city>Winona</ns2:city>
                    <ns2:stateOrCountry>MN</ns2:stateOrCountry>
                    <ns2:zipCode>55987-1500</ns2:zipCode>
                </address>
            </sellerDetails>
            <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
            <saleDate>08/21/2024</saleDate>
            <amountOfSecuritiesSold>45744</amountOfSecuritiesSold>
            <grossProceeds>3117055.63</grossProceeds>
        </securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
        <remarks>Sales that were executed on November 11, 2024 are being reported on this Form 144 filed on November 12, 2024 given the EDGAR system was not accepting filings November 11, 2024 in observance of the federal holiday. </remarks>
        <noticeSignature>
            <noticeDate>11/12/2024</noticeDate>
            <planAdoptionDates/>
            <signature>/s/ Daniel Lars Florness</signature>
        </noticeSignature>
    </formData>
</edgarSubmission>
[{"type": "144", "sequence": "1", "filename": "primary_doc.xml", "secsgml_size_bytes": 5627}]
144
0001017427
XXXXXXXX
LIVE
0000815556
FASTENAL COMPANY
000-16125
2001 Theurer Blvd
Winona
MN
55987-1500
507-454-5374
DANIEL L. FLORNESS
Officer
Director
Common
Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC Executive Financial Services
1 New York Plaza
8th Floor
New York
NY
10004
31818
2688691.00
572886495
11/11/2024
NASDAQ
Common
11/11/2024
Stock Option Exercise
Issuer
N
31818
11/11/2024
Cash
N
DANIEL L. FLORNESS
2001 Theurer Blvd
Winona
MN
55987-1500
Common
11/11/2024
31818
2688691.00
DANIEL LARS FLORNESS
2001 Theurer Blvd
Winona
MN
55987-1500
Common
09/12/2024
50000
3484050.00
DANIEL LARS FLORNESS
2001 Theurer Blvd
Winona
MN
55987-1500
Common
08/21/2024
45744
3117055.63
Sales that were executed on November 11, 2024 are being reported on this Form 144 filed on November 12, 2024 given the EDGAR system was not accepting filings November 11, 2024 in observance of the federal holiday.
11/12/2024
/s/ Daniel Lars Florness