<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM
THE CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET AND CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF EARNINGS OF 
FASTENAL COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES AS OF, AND FOR THE YEAR ENDED, DECEMBER 31, 
1998 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1998
<CASH>                                       2,086,000
<SECURITIES>                                         0<F1>
<RECEIVABLES>                               69,238,000
<ALLOWANCES>                                   740,000
<INVENTORY>                                 93,734,000
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                           173,267,000
<PP&E>                                     111,014,000
<DEPRECIATION>                              36,802,000
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                             251,234,000
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                       30,808,000
<BONDS>                                              0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                       379,000
<OTHER-SE>                                 217,267,000
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>               251,234,000
<SALES>                                    503,100,000
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                           503,100,000
<CGS>                                      238,820,000
<TOTAL-COSTS>                              238,820,000
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                     0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                             3,493,000
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                           1,053,000
<INCOME-PRETAX>                             86,123,000
<INCOME-TAX>                                33,170,000
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                         52,953,000
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                52,953,000
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.40
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.40
<FN>
<F1>Marketable securities in the amount of $265,000 have been classified as 
non-current assets on the Consolidated Balance Sheet of Fastenal Company and 
Subsidiaries as of December 31, 1998.
</FN>