A load characteristic estimating apparatus for a driving machine includes an action-command generating unit for generating an action command for a position and speed of a driving machine, a driving-force-command generating unit for generating a driving force command to cause an action of the driving machine to follow the action command, a driving unit for generating driving force corresponding to the driving force command and drive the driving machine, a sign determining unit for determining, based on driving speed of the driving machine, the state of the driving machine, a load-driving-force estimating unit for calculating, based on the driving force command, a load driving force signal, and a normal reverse-rotation-average calculating unit and a reverse-rotation-average calculating unit, configured to calculate a sequential average of the load driving force signal, respectively when the determination result is a normal and reverse rotation action.