A hardness tester that loads a predetermined test force and forms an indentation in a surface of a sample using an indenter, and measures the hardness of the sample by measuring dimensions of the indentation includes a CCD camera that acquires an image of the surface of the sample before and after the indentation is formed. The CPU can execute a plurality of indentation region extraction processes that use mutually distinct methods, the indentation region extraction processes each extracting an indentation region based on the images acquired by the CCD camera. The CPU also makes a determination determining whether the indentation region extracted by the plurality of indentation region extraction processes matches a predefined reference indentation region, and based on an indentation region that is determined to match, the CPU calculates the hardness of the sample.