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    <isConfidential>false</isConfidential>
    <filerInfo>

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        <issuerCredentials>
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          <ccc>XXXXXXXX</ccc>
        </issuerCredentials>
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        <classId>C000101157</classId>
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        <classId>C000101155</classId>
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    </filerInfo>
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      <regName>BlackRock Funds III</regName>
      <regFileNumber>811-07332</regFileNumber>
      <regCik>0000893818</regCik>
      <regLei>5493008LW2651I1QB503</regLei>
      <regStreet1>100 Bellevue Parkway</regStreet1>
      <regCity>Wilmington</regCity>
      <regStateConditional regCountry="US" regState="US-DE"/>
      <regZipOrPostalCode>19809</regZipOrPostalCode>
      <regPhone>800-441-7762</regPhone>
      <seriesName>BlackRock LifePath Index 2050 Fund</seriesName>
      <seriesId>S000032782</seriesId>
      <seriesLei>54930002PHZRI7UFS763</seriesLei>
      <repPdEnd>2020-12-31</repPdEnd>
      <repPdDate>2020-12-31</repPdDate>
      <isFinalFiling>N</isFinalFiling>
    </genInfo>
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      <totLiabs>29040718.20</totLiabs>
      <netAssets>4315107425.37</netAssets>
      <assetsAttrMiscSec>0.00000000</assetsAttrMiscSec>
      <assetsInvested>0.00000000</assetsInvested>
      <amtPayOneYrBanksBorr>0.00000000</amtPayOneYrBanksBorr>
      <amtPayOneYrCtrldComp>0.00000000</amtPayOneYrCtrldComp>
      <amtPayOneYrOthAffil>0.00000000</amtPayOneYrOthAffil>
      <amtPayOneYrOther>0.00000000</amtPayOneYrOther>
      <amtPayAftOneYrBanksBorr>0.00000000</amtPayAftOneYrBanksBorr>
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      <amtPayAftOneYrOthAffil>0.00000000</amtPayAftOneYrOthAffil>
      <amtPayAftOneYrOther>0.00000000</amtPayAftOneYrOther>
      <delayDeliv>0.00000000</delayDeliv>
      <standByCommit>0.00000000</standByCommit>
      <liquidPref>0.00000000</liquidPref>
      <cshNotRptdInCorD>0.00000000</cshNotRptdInCorD>
      <isNonCashCollateral>N</isNonCashCollateral>
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        <monthlyTotReturns>
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          <monthlyTotReturn classId="C000101157" rtn1="-2.26000000" rtn2="11.99000000" rtn3="4.81000000"/>
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          <monthlyTotReturn classId="C000101155" rtn1="-2.26000000" rtn2="11.95000000" rtn3="4.74000000"/>
        </monthlyTotReturns>
        <othMon1 netRealizedGain="-4222340.51000000" netUnrealizedAppr="-81211297.86000000"/>
        <othMon2 netRealizedGain="-5643.45000000" netUnrealizedAppr="432503040.24000000"/>
        <othMon3 netRealizedGain="146190.49000000" netUnrealizedAppr="178878839.97000000"/>
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      <mon2Flow redemption="46744409.88000000" reinvestment="0.00000000" sales="87338919.80000000"/>
      <mon3Flow redemption="45670225.18000000" reinvestment="0.00000000" sales="122332231.03000000"/>


    </fundInfo>
    <invstOrSecs>
      <invstOrSec>
        <name>SMALL CAP LIFEPATH MUTUAL FUND</name>
        <lei>N/A</lei>
        <title>SMALL CAP LIFEPATH MUTUAL FUND</title>
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        <identifiers>
          <other otherDesc="BlackRock Identifier" value="BRSC7UH02"/>
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        <units>NS</units>
        <curCd>USD</curCd>
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        <issuerCat>RF</issuerCat>
        <invCountry>US</invCountry>
        <isRestrictedSec>N</isRestrictedSec>

        <fairValLevel>N/A</fairValLevel>
        <securityLending>
          <isCashCollateral>N</isCashCollateral>
          <isNonCashCollateral>N</isNonCashCollateral>
          <isLoanByFund>N</isLoanByFund>
        </securityLending>
      </invstOrSec>
      <invstOrSec>
        <name>iShares TIPS Bond ETF</name>
        <lei>549300EHD1VQKMRQ0829</lei>
        <title>iShares TIPS Bond ETF</title>
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        <identifiers>
          <isin value="US4642871762"/>
        </identifiers>
        <balance>150856.00000000</balance>
        <units>NS</units>
        <curCd>USD</curCd>
        <valUSD>19256768.40000000</valUSD>
        <pctVal>0.446263939729</pctVal>
        <payoffProfile>Long</payoffProfile>
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        <issuerCat>RF</issuerCat>
        <invCountry>US</invCountry>
        <isRestrictedSec>N</isRestrictedSec>

        <fairValLevel>1</fairValLevel>
        <securityLending>
          <isCashCollateral>N</isCashCollateral>
          <isNonCashCollateral>N</isNonCashCollateral>
          <isLoanByFund>N</isLoanByFund>
        </securityLending>
      </invstOrSec>
      <invstOrSec>
        <name>iShares Core MSCI Total International Stock ETF</name>
        <lei>5493000KJHTQW5I5L936</lei>
        <title>iShares Core MSCI Total International Stock ETF</title>
        <cusip>46432F834</cusip>
        <identifiers>
          <isin value="US46432F8344"/>
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        <balance>25313535.00000000</balance>
        <units>NS</units>
        <curCd>USD</curCd>
        <valUSD>1700816416.65000000</valUSD>
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        <invCountry>US</invCountry>
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        <fairValLevel>1</fairValLevel>
        <securityLending>
          <isCashCollateral>N</isCashCollateral>
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          <isLoanByFund>N</isLoanByFund>
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      </invstOrSec>
      <invstOrSec>
        <name>RUSSEL 1000 LIFEPATH MUTUAL FUND</name>
        <lei>N/A</lei>
        <title>RUSSEL 1000 LIFEPATH MUTUAL FUND</title>
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        <identifiers>
          <other otherDesc="BlackRock Identifier" value="BRSC7UGQ6"/>
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        <units>NS</units>
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        <invCountry>US</invCountry>
        <isRestrictedSec>N</isRestrictedSec>

        <fairValLevel>N/A</fairValLevel>
        <securityLending>
          <isCashCollateral>N</isCashCollateral>
          <isNonCashCollateral>N</isNonCashCollateral>
          <isLoanByFund>N</isLoanByFund>
        </securityLending>
      </invstOrSec>
      <invstOrSec>
        <name>BLACKROCK CASH FUNDS TREASURY SL AGENCY SHARES</name>
        <lei>5493008LW2651I1QB503</lei>
        <title>BlackRock Cash Funds: Treasury, SL Agency Shares</title>
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        <balance>8573054.82000000</balance>
        <units>NS</units>
        <curCd>USD</curCd>
        <valUSD>8573054.82000000</valUSD>
        <pctVal>0.198675350921</pctVal>
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        <assetCat>STIV</assetCat>
        <issuerCat>RF</issuerCat>
        <invCountry>US</invCountry>
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        <fairValLevel>1</fairValLevel>
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          <isCashCollateral>N</isCashCollateral>
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          <isLoanByFund>N</isLoanByFund>
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      </invstOrSec>
      <invstOrSec>
        <name>iShares Developed Real Estate Index Fund</name>
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        <units>NS</units>
        <curCd>USD</curCd>
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        <payoffProfile>Long</payoffProfile>
        <assetCat>EC</assetCat>
        <issuerCat>RF</issuerCat>
        <invCountry>US</invCountry>
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        <fairValLevel>1</fairValLevel>
        <securityLending>
          <isCashCollateral>N</isCashCollateral>
          <isNonCashCollateral>N</isNonCashCollateral>
          <isLoanByFund>N</isLoanByFund>
        </securityLending>
      </invstOrSec>
      <invstOrSec>
        <name>Bond Index Lifepath Mutual Fund</name>
        <lei>N/A</lei>
        <title>Bond Index Lifepath Mutual Fund</title>
        <cusip>000000000</cusip>
        <identifiers>
          <other otherDesc="BlackRock Identifier" value="BRSC7UGG8"/>
        </identifiers>
        <balance>3310385.20600000</balance>
        <units>NS</units>
        <curCd>USD</curCd>
        <valUSD>46479794.52000000</valUSD>
        <pctVal>1.077141075254</pctVal>
        <payoffProfile>Long</payoffProfile>
        <assetCat>EC</assetCat>
        <issuerCat>RF</issuerCat>
        <invCountry>US</invCountry>
        <isRestrictedSec>N</isRestrictedSec>

        <fairValLevel>N/A</fairValLevel>
        <securityLending>
          <isCashCollateral>N</isCashCollateral>
          <isNonCashCollateral>N</isNonCashCollateral>
          <isLoanByFund>N</isLoanByFund>
        </securityLending>
      </invstOrSec>
    </invstOrSecs>
    <explntrNotes>


      <explntrNote note="Monthly returns presented in Item B.5(a) have been calculated without deducting any applicable sales loads or redemption fees." noteItem="B.5.a"/>
    </explntrNotes>
    <signature>
      <ncom:dateSigned>2021-01-28</ncom:dateSigned>
      <ncom:nameOfApplicant>BlackRock Funds III</ncom:nameOfApplicant>
      <ncom:signature>Ann Frechette</ncom:signature>
      <ncom:signerName>Ann Frechette</ncom:signerName>
      <ncom:title>Assistant Treasurer</ncom:title>
    </signature>
  </formData>
</edgarSubmission>
