A surveying instrument and a surveying method for further minimizing a measurement error when the surveying instrument casts a light to a measuring object and receives the reflected light and measures a delay time or a distance. A reference pulse light r and a measurement pulse light o1 are received as a received light signal by a light receiving section 9, and a damping signal S3U is formed from the received light signals r, o1, and an amplification rate of a minute level signal in the proximity of a zero cross point Q0 of the damping signal S3U is greatly amplified, and timing signals r′, o1′ are formed by using an amplified signal. Therefore, the measurement error can be minimized.