The present invention provides a steel for nitriding with a composition including, by mass %: C: 0.10% to 0.20%; Si: 0.01% to 0.7%; Mn: 0.2% to 2.0%; Cr: 0.2% to 2.5%; Al: 0.01% to less than 0.19%; V: over 0.2% to 1.0%; Mo: 0% to 0.54%; N: 0.001% to 0.01%; P limited to not more than 0.05%; S limited to not less than 0.2%; and a balance including Fe and inevitable impurities, the composition satisfying 2≦[V]/[C]≦10, where [V] is an amount of V by mass % and [C] is an amount of C by mass %, in which the steel for nitriding has a microstructure containing bainite of 50% or more in terms of an area percentage.