A hydraulic circuit for a construction machine, capable of enhancing the effect of reducing a pressure loss due to return oil from a head-side chamber of a hydraulic cylinder, with a simple structure. The circuit includes a hydraulic cylinder, a control valve, a return pipeline, and a tank direct-communication line providing direct communication between the control valve and a tank separately from the return pipeline. The control valve has a flow path leading return oil from a head-side chamber of the hydraulic cylinder to the tank direct-communication line and a flow path leading return oil from a rod-side chamber of the hydraulic cylinder to the return pipeline.