A plate-like alumina powder production method of the present invention comprises placing a transition alumina and a fluoride in a container such that the transition alumina and the fluoride do not come into contact with each other and then performing heat treatment to obtain a plate-like α-alumina powder. The transition alumina is preferably at least one selected from the group consisting of gibbsite, boehmite, and γ-alumina. It is preferable that the amount of the fluoride used is set such that the percentage ration of F in the fluoride to the transition alumina is 0.17% by mass or more. The container preferably has a volume such that a value obtained by dividing the mass of F in the fluoride by the volume of the container is 6.5×10−5 g/cm3 or more. The heat treatment is preferably performed at the temperature of 750 to 1,650° C.