A magnetic tape has a magnetic layer containing ferromagnetic powder and binder on a nonmagnetic support. The magnetic layer contains a fatty acid ester. The full width at half maximum of the spacing distribution as measured by optical interferometry on the magnetic layer side surface of the magnetic tape before vacuum heating the magnetic tape is greater than 0 nm but less than or equal to 5.0 nm. The full width at half maximum of the spacing distribution after vacuum heating the magnetic tape is greater than 0 nm but less than or equal to 5.0 nm. The difference between the spacing Safter after vacuum heating the magnetic tape and the spacing Sbefore before vacuum heating the magnetic tape, Safter−Sbefore, is greater than 0 nm but less than or equal to 8.0 nm.