<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><edgarSubmission xmlns="http://www.sec.gov/edgar/nport" xmlns:com="http://www.sec.gov/edgar/common" xmlns:ncom="http://www.sec.gov/edgar/nportcommon" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" xsi:schemaLocation="http://www.sec.gov/edgar/nport eis_NPORT_Filer.xsd">
  <headerData>
    <submissionType>NPORT-P</submissionType>
    <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>
  <formData>
    <genInfo>
      <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>2023-10-31</repPdEnd>
      <repPdDate>2023-01-31</repPdDate>
      <isFinalFiling>N</isFinalFiling>
    </genInfo>
    <fundInfo>
      <totAssets>3402459.36</totAssets>
      <totLiabs>643845.93</totLiabs>
      <netAssets>2758613.43</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="34297.39000000" lei="ZBUT11V806EZRVTWT807" name="JP MORGAN SECURITIES LLC"/>
        <borrower aggrVal="52213.56000000" lei="549300LCO2FLSSVFFR64" name="RBC Capital Markets LLC"/>
        <borrower aggrVal="16505.00000000" lei="AC28XWWI3WIBK2824319" name="BARCLAYS CAPITAL INC."/>
        <borrower aggrVal="204295.01000000" lei="G5GSEF7VJP5I7OUK5573" name="BARCLAYS BANK PLC"/>
      </borrowers>
      <isNonCashCollateral>N</isNonCashCollateral>
      <returnInfo>
        <monthlyTotReturns>
          <monthlyTotReturn classId="C000220935" rtn1="5.75000000" rtn2="-2.69000000" rtn3="5.42000000"/>
          <monthlyTotReturn classId="C000220936" rtn1="5.86000000" rtn2="-2.68000000" rtn3="5.42000000"/>
          <monthlyTotReturn classId="C000220937" rtn1="5.75000000" rtn2="-2.75000000" rtn3="5.43000000"/>
        </monthlyTotReturns>
        <othMon1 netRealizedGain="-3567.21000000" netUnrealizedAppr="148308.15000000"/>
        <othMon2 netRealizedGain="-4801.70000000" netUnrealizedAppr="-79222.89000000"/>
        <othMon3 netRealizedGain="-452.30000000" netUnrealizedAppr="141978.79000000"/>
      </returnInfo>
      <mon1Flow redemption="2834.58000000" reinvestment="0.00000000" sales="8277.43000000"/>
      <mon2Flow redemption="140.53000000" reinvestment="5715.02000000" sales="13556.60000000"/>
      <mon3Flow redemption="9556.97000000" reinvestment="0.00000000" sales="5330.15000000"/>



    </fundInfo>
    <invstOrSecs>
      <invstOrSec>
        <name>iShares Trust iShares ESG Aware MSCI EAFE ETF</name>
        <lei>549300IT2A3OM8F0BB22</lei>
        <title>iShares Trust iShares ESG Aware MSCI EAFE ETF</title>
        <cusip>46435G516</cusip>
        <identifiers>
          <isin value="US46435G5163"/>
        </identifiers>
        <balance>4703.00000000</balance>
        <units>NS</units>
        <curCd>USD</curCd>
        <valUSD>337440.25000000</valUSD>
        <pctVal>12.23224125317</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>
      <invstOrSec>
        <name>iShares ESG Aware US Aggregate Bond ETF</name>
        <lei>549300ZH4AMJV5ZGCV06</lei>
        <title>iShares ESG Aware US Aggregate Bond ETF</title>
        <cusip>46435U549</cusip>
        <identifiers>
          <isin value="US46435U5496"/>
        </identifiers>
        <balance>26022.00000000</balance>
        <units>NS</units>
        <curCd>USD</curCd>
        <valUSD>1257122.82000000</valUSD>
        <pctVal>45.57082215031</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>
      <invstOrSec>
        <name>iShares ESG Aware MSCI USA ETF</name>
        <lei>549300N2OW8SZV95FP93</lei>
        <title>iShares ESG Aware MSCI USA ETF</title>
        <cusip>46435G425</cusip>
        <identifiers>
          <isin value="US46435G4257"/>
        </identifiers>
        <balance>6668.00000000</balance>
        <units>NS</units>
        <curCd>USD</curCd>
        <valUSD>601720.32000000</valUSD>
        <pctVal>21.81241900210</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>
      <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"/>
        </identifiers>
        <balance>354.00000000</balance>
        <units>NS</units>
        <curCd>USD</curCd>
        <valUSD>18302.69000000</valUSD>
        <pctVal>0.663474258515</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>
      <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"/>
        </identifiers>
        <balance>854.00000000</balance>
        <units>NS</units>
        <curCd>USD</curCd>
        <valUSD>52213.56000000</valUSD>
        <pctVal>1.892746530999</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>
          <loanByFundCondition isLoanByFund="Y" loanVal="52213.56000000"/>
        </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>
        <identifiers>
          <isin value="US46434G8630"/>
        </identifiers>
        <balance>1542.00000000</balance>
        <units>NS</units>
        <curCd>USD</curCd>
        <valUSD>50901.42000000</valUSD>
        <pctVal>1.845181330825</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>
          <loanByFundCondition isLoanByFund="Y" loanVal="50835.40000000"/>
        </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"/>
        </identifiers>
        <balance>316233.18100000</balance>
        <units>NS</units>
        <curCd>USD</curCd>
        <valUSD>316422.92000000</valUSD>
        <pctVal>11.47036103568</pctVal>
        <payoffProfile>Long</payoffProfile>
        <assetCat>STIV</assetCat>
        <issuerCat>RF</issuerCat>
        <invCountry>US</invCountry>
        <isRestrictedSec>N</isRestrictedSec>

        <fairValLevel>1</fairValLevel>
        <securityLending>
          <cashCollateralCondition cashCollateralVal="316422.92000000" isCashCollateral="Y"/>
          <isNonCashCollateral>N</isNonCashCollateral>
          <isLoanByFund>N</isLoanByFund>
        </securityLending>
      </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>
        <identifiers>
          <isin value="US46435U6635"/>
        </identifiers>
        <balance>3908.00000000</balance>
        <units>NS</units>
        <curCd>USD</curCd>
        <valUSD>141938.56000000</valUSD>
        <pctVal>5.145286340464</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>
      <invstOrSec>
        <name>iShares TIPS Bond ETF</name>
        <lei>549300EHD1VQKMRQ0829</lei>
        <title>iShares TIPS Bond ETF</title>
        <cusip>464287176</cusip>
        <identifiers>
          <isin value="US4642871762"/>
        </identifiers>
        <balance>1882.00000000</balance>
        <units>NS</units>
        <curCd>USD</curCd>
        <valUSD>204479.30000000</valUSD>
        <pctVal>7.412394131641</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>
          <loanByFundCondition isLoanByFund="Y" loanVal="204262.00000000"/>
        </securityLending>
      </invstOrSec>
      <invstOrSec>
        <name>iShares MSCI Canada ETF</name>
        <lei>549300DXCD53F4JK3H45</lei>
        <title>iShares MSCI Canada ETF</title>
        <cusip>464286509</cusip>
        <identifiers>
          <isin value="US4642865095"/>
        </identifiers>
        <balance>1162.00000000</balance>
        <units>NS</units>
        <curCd>USD</curCd>
        <valUSD>41634.46000000</valUSD>
        <pctVal>1.509253146788</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>
      <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>6225.71400000</balance>
        <units>NS</units>
        <curCd>USD</curCd>
        <valUSD>60513.94000000</valUSD>
        <pctVal>2.193636097827</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>2023-03-01</ncom:dateSigned>
      <ncom:nameOfApplicant>BlackRock Funds III</ncom:nameOfApplicant>
      <ncom:signature>Chuck Pulsfort</ncom:signature>
      <ncom:signerName>Chuck Pulsfort</ncom:signerName>
      <ncom:title>Assistant Treasurer</ncom:title>
    </signature>
  </formData>
  <documents>XXXX</documents>
</edgarSubmission>
