A variable displacement inclined plate type compressor comprising a spindle, an inclined plate provided to be inclinable relative to the spindle and rotating together with the spindle, a pair of shoes arranged to hold the inclined plate therebetween, and a piston coupled with the inclined plate through the pair of shoes, wherein the quantity of stroke of the piston is determined depending on the inclination angle of the inclined plate. In the sliding surface of the inclined plate with which the planar part of the shoe comes into contact, a groove is provided such that the contact area of the shoe and the sliding surface of the inclined plate when the inclination angle of the inclined plate is minimum becomes smaller than that when the inclination angle of the inclined plate is maximum. In such a structure, power consumption can be reduced during low displacement operation without damaging reliability of the compressor.