Provided is a steel for nitrocarburizing that can ensure hardened case depth by suppressing precipitation of Cr, V, and Nb in a part of the surface layer very close to the surface. The provided steel comprises: a specific chemical composition satisfying 9.5≤([Cr]/52+[V]/50.9+[Nb]/92.9+M)×103≤18.5, with the balance being Fe and inevitable impurities; and a steel microstructure in which an area ratio of bainite phase with respect to the entire microstructure is more than 50%.