There is provided a photoelectric switch capable of accurately detecting even such a workpiece where a tint changes within the same workpiece, while preventing erroneous detection. The photoelectric switch includes: a light projecting unit; a light receiving unit; a coincidence degree calculating unit for comparing the acquired color information with a reference color to calculate a coincidence degree of both of the color information. When the color information is newly acquired, a detection signal generating unit compares, with a detection determination threshold, the highest coincidence degree of coincidence degrees calculated by respectively comparing the color information newly acquired, with the two or more reference colors, to perform workpiece determination.