A cell transfer device includes a base on which a container accommodating a plurality of cells is mounted, a head with a suction tip attached that sucks the cells in the container, and a control unit that controls the head. The cells are placed on a placement surface that is an upper surface of an underlying culture medium layer including a gel-like culture medium. The control unit acquires information on a height position of the placement surface, specifies a suction height for the cells existing at a first point on the placement surface, and causes the suction tip to suck the cells. Then, the control unit causes the suction tip to suck the cells existing at a second point different from the first point on the placement surface by using the suction height of the first point.