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    <isConfidential>false</isConfidential>
    <filerInfo>

      <filer>
        <issuerCredentials>
          <cik>0000893818</cik>
          <ccc>XXXXXXXX</ccc>
        </issuerCredentials>
      </filer>


      <seriesClassInfo>
        <seriesId>S000069124</seriesId>
        <classId>C000220935</classId>
        <classId>C000220936</classId>
        <classId>C000220937</classId>
      </seriesClassInfo>


    </filerInfo>
  </headerData>
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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 ESG Index 2025 Fund</seriesName>
      <seriesId>S000069124</seriesId>
      <seriesLei>549300HMO6ZCOXJCHG70</seriesLei>
      <repPdEnd>2022-10-31</repPdEnd>
      <repPdDate>2022-04-30</repPdDate>
      <isFinalFiling>N</isFinalFiling>
    </genInfo>
    <fundInfo>
      <totAssets>4293123.43</totAssets>
      <totLiabs>1618551.93</totLiabs>
      <netAssets>2674571.50</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>
      <amtPayAftOneYrCtrldComp>0.00000000</amtPayAftOneYrCtrldComp>
      <amtPayAftOneYrOthAffil>0.00000000</amtPayAftOneYrOthAffil>
      <amtPayAftOneYrOther>0.00000000</amtPayAftOneYrOther>
      <delayDeliv>0.00000000</delayDeliv>
      <standByCommit>0.00000000</standByCommit>
      <liquidPref>0.00000000</liquidPref>
      <cshNotRptdInCorD>0.00000000</cshNotRptdInCorD>
      <borrowers>
        <borrower aggrVal="154953.00000000" lei="AC28XWWI3WIBK2824319" name="BARCLAYS CAPITAL INC."/>
        <borrower aggrVal="626825.75000000" lei="G5GSEF7VJP5I7OUK5573" name="BARCLAYS BANK PLC"/>
      </borrowers>
      <isNonCashCollateral>N</isNonCashCollateral>
      <returnInfo>
        <monthlyTotReturns>
          <monthlyTotReturn classId="C000220935" rtn1="-1.82000000" rtn2="-0.35000000" rtn3="-5.67000000"/>
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        </monthlyTotReturns>
        <othMon1 netRealizedGain="-1926.46000000" netUnrealizedAppr="-50397.84000000"/>
        <othMon2 netRealizedGain="-60.57000000" netUnrealizedAppr="-13558.97000000"/>
        <othMon3 netRealizedGain="549.63000000" netUnrealizedAppr="-162359.92000000"/>
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      <mon1Flow redemption="0.00000000" reinvestment="0.00000000" sales="2551.25000000"/>
      <mon2Flow redemption="0.00000000" reinvestment="0.00000000" sales="18768.86000000"/>
      <mon3Flow redemption="18.01000000" reinvestment="351.62000000" sales="74182.34000000"/>


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        <name>iShares Trust iShares ESG Aware MSCI EAFE ETF</name>
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        <title>iShares Trust iShares ESG Aware MSCI EAFE ETF</title>
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        <units>NS</units>
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        <valUSD>325112.49000000</valUSD>
        <pctVal>12.15568512563</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>
          <loanByFundCondition isLoanByFund="Y" loanVal="145047.00000000"/>
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      </invstOrSec>
      <invstOrSec>
        <name>iShares ESG Aware US Aggregate Bond ETF</name>
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        <title>iShares ESG Aware US Aggregate Bond ETF</title>
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          <isin value="US46435U5496"/>
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        <invCountry>US</invCountry>
        <isRestrictedSec>N</isRestrictedSec>

        <fairValLevel>1</fairValLevel>
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          <isCashCollateral>N</isCashCollateral>
          <isNonCashCollateral>N</isNonCashCollateral>
          <loanByFundCondition isLoanByFund="Y" loanVal="9906.00000000"/>
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      </invstOrSec>
      <invstOrSec>
        <name>iShares ESG Aware MSCI USA ETF</name>
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        <title>iShares ESG Aware MSCI USA ETF</title>
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        <invCountry>US</invCountry>
        <isRestrictedSec>N</isRestrictedSec>

        <fairValLevel>1</fairValLevel>
        <securityLending>
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          <loanByFundCondition isLoanByFund="Y" loanVal="582883.35000000"/>
        </securityLending>
      </invstOrSec>
      <invstOrSec>
        <name>iShares MSCI Emerging Markets Small-Cap ETF</name>
        <lei>5493007YPFO23SID2674</lei>
        <title>iShares MSCI Emerging Markets Small-Cap ETF</title>
        <cusip>464286475</cusip>
        <identifiers>
          <isin value="US4642864759"/>
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        <balance>319.00000000</balance>
        <units>NS</units>
        <curCd>USD</curCd>
        <valUSD>17388.69000000</valUSD>
        <pctVal>0.650148631285</pctVal>
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        <invCountry>US</invCountry>
        <isRestrictedSec>N</isRestrictedSec>

        <fairValLevel>1</fairValLevel>
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          <isCashCollateral>N</isCashCollateral>
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          <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>
        <cusip>066922477</cusip>
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          <isin value="US0669224778"/>
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        <curCd>USD</curCd>
        <valUSD>5313.47000000</valUSD>
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        <invCountry>US</invCountry>
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        <fairValLevel>1</fairValLevel>
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          <isCashCollateral>N</isCashCollateral>
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      </invstOrSec>
      <invstOrSec>
        <name>iShares MSCI EAFE Small-Cap ETF</name>
        <lei>549300MJV5OZGVS4LX86</lei>
        <title>iShares MSCI EAFE Small-Cap ETF</title>
        <cusip>464288273</cusip>
        <identifiers>
          <isin value="US4642882736"/>
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        <balance>782.00000000</balance>
        <units>NS</units>
        <curCd>USD</curCd>
        <valUSD>48249.40000000</valUSD>
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        <invCountry>US</invCountry>
        <isRestrictedSec>N</isRestrictedSec>

        <fairValLevel>1</fairValLevel>
        <securityLending>
          <isCashCollateral>N</isCashCollateral>
          <isNonCashCollateral>N</isNonCashCollateral>
          <isLoanByFund>N</isLoanByFund>
        </securityLending>
      </invstOrSec>
      <invstOrSec>
        <name>iShares Inc iShares ESG Aware MSCI EM ETF</name>
        <lei>549300JES9K0OUJ8F389</lei>
        <title>iShares Inc iShares ESG Aware MSCI EM ETF</title>
        <cusip>46434G863</cusip>
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          <isin value="US46434G8630"/>
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        <units>NS</units>
        <curCd>USD</curCd>
        <valUSD>45178.28000000</valUSD>
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        <assetCat>EC</assetCat>
        <issuerCat>RF</issuerCat>
        <invCountry>US</invCountry>
        <isRestrictedSec>N</isRestrictedSec>

        <fairValLevel>1</fairValLevel>
        <securityLending>
          <isCashCollateral>N</isCashCollateral>
          <isNonCashCollateral>N</isNonCashCollateral>
          <loanByFundCondition isLoanByFund="Y" loanVal="43942.40000000"/>
        </securityLending>
      </invstOrSec>
      <invstOrSec>
        <name>BlackRock Funds III</name>
        <lei>5493008LW2651I1QB503</lei>
        <title>BlackRock Cash Funds: Institutional, SL Agency Shares</title>
        <cusip>066922519</cusip>
        <identifiers>
          <isin value="US0669225197"/>
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        <units>NS</units>
        <curCd>USD</curCd>
        <valUSD>804582.98000000</valUSD>
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        <invCountry>US</invCountry>
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        <fairValLevel>1</fairValLevel>
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      </invstOrSec>
      <invstOrSec>
        <name>iShares ESG Aware MSCI USA Small-Cap ETF</name>
        <lei>549300V3IZTYAHR0WL12</lei>
        <title>iShares ESG Aware MSCI USA Small-Cap ETF</title>
        <cusip>46435U663</cusip>
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          <isin value="US46435U6635"/>
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        <curCd>USD</curCd>
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        <assetCat>EC</assetCat>
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        <invCountry>US</invCountry>
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        <fairValLevel>1</fairValLevel>
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          <isCashCollateral>N</isCashCollateral>
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          <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"/>
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        <balance>1722.00000000</balance>
        <units>NS</units>
        <curCd>USD</curCd>
        <valUSD>208482.54000000</valUSD>
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        <assetCat>EC</assetCat>
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        <invCountry>US</invCountry>
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        <fairValLevel>1</fairValLevel>
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          <isCashCollateral>N</isCashCollateral>
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      </invstOrSec>
      <invstOrSec>
        <name>iShares MSCI Canada ETF</name>
        <lei>549300DXCD53F4JK3H45</lei>
        <title>iShares MSCI Canada ETF</title>
        <cusip>464286509</cusip>
        <identifiers>
          <isin value="US4642865095"/>
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        <balance>766.00000000</balance>
        <units>NS</units>
        <curCd>USD</curCd>
        <valUSD>28380.30000000</valUSD>
        <pctVal>1.061115771255</pctVal>
        <payoffProfile>Long</payoffProfile>
        <assetCat>EC</assetCat>
        <issuerCat>RF</issuerCat>
        <invCountry>US</invCountry>
        <isRestrictedSec>N</isRestrictedSec>

        <fairValLevel>1</fairValLevel>
        <securityLending>
          <isCashCollateral>N</isCashCollateral>
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          <isLoanByFund>N</isLoanByFund>
        </securityLending>
      </invstOrSec>
      <invstOrSec>
        <name>iShares Developed Real Estate Index Fund</name>
        <lei>549300CCO72SBIYZNP24</lei>
        <title>iShares Developed Real Estate Index Fund</title>
        <cusip>091936187</cusip>
        <identifiers>
          <isin value="US0919361875"/>
        </identifiers>
        <balance>5433.35200000</balance>
        <units>NS</units>
        <curCd>USD</curCd>
        <valUSD>58680.20000000</valUSD>
        <pctVal>2.194003787148</pctVal>
        <payoffProfile>Long</payoffProfile>
        <assetCat>EC</assetCat>
        <issuerCat>RF</issuerCat>
        <invCountry>US</invCountry>
        <isRestrictedSec>N</isRestrictedSec>

        <fairValLevel>1</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>2022-05-31</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>
