<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
                                                                 Exhibit 27
                     THE STANLEY WORKS AND SUBSIDIARIES
                         FINANCIAL DATA SCHEDULE
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from The Stanley
Works and Subsidiaries Consolidated Balance Sheets and Statement of Earnings and
is qualified in its entirety by reference to such financial statements.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-28-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-28-1996
<CASH>                                          84,000
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  468,800
<ALLOWANCES>                                    22,500
<INVENTORY>                                    338,100
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               910,900
<PP&E>                                       1,224,400
<DEPRECIATION>                                 654,000
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               1,659,600
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          381,600
<BONDS>                                        342,600
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                       230,900
<OTHER-SE>                                     549,200
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                 1,659,600
<SALES>                                      2,670,800
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                             2,670,800
<CGS>                                        1,795,500
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                1,795,500
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                     0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              22,500
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                174,200
<INCOME-TAX>                                    77,300
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                             96,900
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                    96,900
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.09<F1>
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0
<FN>
<F1>On April 17, 1996, the company declared a two-for-one stock split.
Prior period Financial Data Schedules have not been restated.
</FN>