A liquid crystal display device includes a first substrate and a second substrate, a liquid crystal layer between the first and second substrates, and an alignment layer between the liquid crystal layer and at least one of the substrates. The liquid crystal layer contains liquid crystal molecules having a negative anisotropy of dielectric constant. The alignment layer aligns the liquid crystal molecules perpendicular to the substrate. The liquid crystal display device further includes pixels. Each pixel includes a plurality of subpixels expressing different colors. Each subpixel includes a stepped layer therein such that the stepped layer is disposed between the liquid crystal layer and at least one of the substrates. The stepped layer defines a first region and a second region in the subpixel. The thickness of the liquid crystal layer is relatively thick in the first region and relatively thin in the second region. The area ratio of the first region depends on a color expressed by the subpixel.