A surface mount inductor includes a coil including a conducting wire winding portion with both ends on the outer circumference and a pair of extension portions that extend from the outer circumference, a molded body containing a metal magnetic powder and the coil embedded, and a pair of outer terminals disposed on the molded body and connected to the extension portions. The molded body has principal surfaces, end surfaces, and side surfaces. One principal surface serves as a mounting surface including a recessed portion with an elevated region and a lowered region. The coil is embedded in the molded body with the winding axis of the winding portion parallel to the recessed portion, and the pair of extension portions extend from the outer circumference toward the mounting surface to be exposed at the lowered region and connected to the pair of outer terminals in the lowered region.