A surface-coated cutting tool includes a lower layer including a Ti compound layer, an intermediate layer including an α-Al2O3 layer, and an upper layer including a Zr-containing α-Al2O3 layer. The outermost layer of the lower layer contains 0.5 to 3 at % of oxygen. The frequencies of inclination angles between a normal line to a (0001) plane of Al2O3 grains of the intermediate layer and a normal line to a surface of a tool body have a highest peak in an inclination angle division of 0 to 10°. The ratio of the frequencies is 50 to 70%. The frequencies between the normal line to the (0001) plane of Al2O3 grains of the entirety of the intermediate and the upper layers and the normal line to the tool body surface have a highest peak in an inclination angle division of 0 to 10°. The ratio of the frequencies is 75% or more.