A piezoelectric element includes a plate-shaped piezoelectric body having one principal face and the other principal face which are opposite to each other; and a first surface electrode mounted on the one principal face and a second surface electrode mounted on the other principal face, at least one of the first surface electrode and the second surface electrode including a center part and a peripheral part which is greater in thickness than the center part, the peripheral part having a thicker region and a thinner region which is thinner than the thicker region.