The magnetic recording medium includes a non-magnetic support; and a magnetic layer including a ferromagnetic powder and a binding agent on the non-magnetic support, in which a center line average surface roughness Ra measured regarding a surface of the magnetic layer is 1.0 nm to 1.6 nm, and a difference (Safter−Sbefore) between a spacing Safter measured by optical interferometry regarding the surface of the magnetic layer after ethanol cleaning and a spacing Sbefore measured by optical interferometry regarding the surface of the magnetic layer before ethanol cleaning is greater than 0 nm and equal to or smaller than 6.0 nm.