Exhibit 12




                  MASCO CORPORATION AND CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIES

                 Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges




                                                 (Thousands of Dollars)                     
                                 Nine
                             Months Ended
                             September 30,              Year Ended December 31,            
                                 1996        1995      1994      1993      1992      1991  
                                                                 
Earnings Before Income Taxes
  and Fixed Charges:

  Income from continuing 
    operations before income 
    taxes                       $353,000   $351,790  $292,830  $349,190  $296,020  $125,140

  Deduct/add equity in 
    undistributed (earnings)
    losses of fifty-percent-
    or-less-owned companies       (9,630)   (17,770)  106,200   (13,750)  (13,210)   38,150 

  Add interest on indebtedness,
    net                           54,850     73,400    60,360    62,860    57,190    71,640

  Add amortization of debt
    expense                        1,080      1,930     2,220     2,650     2,710     1,630

  Add one-third of rentals         4,230      4,970     4,220     3,190     3,290     3,490

  Earnings from continuing 
    operations before income
    taxes and fixed charges     $403,530   $414,320  $465,830  $404,140  $346,000  $240,050


Fixed Charges:

  Interest on indebtedness      $ 56,960   $ 76,460  $ 63,220  $ 63,600  $ 69,890  $ 72,850

  Amortization of debt expense     1,080      1,930     2,220     2,650     2,710     1,630

  One-third of rentals             4,230      4,970     4,220     3,190     3,290     3,490

                                $ 62,270   $ 83,360  $ 69,660  $ 69,440  $ 75,890  $ 77,970

Ratio of earnings to fixed
  charges                            6.5        5.0       6.7       5.8       4.6       3.1