Surface-coated cutting tool

A surface-coated cutting tool comprising a base material and a coating formed on the base material,

• the coating including an α-Al2O3 layer containing a plurality of α-Al2O3 crystal grains,
• the α-Al2O3 layer including a lower layer portion disposed at a side of the base material, an intermediate portion disposed on the lower layer portion, and an upper layer portion disposed on the intermediate portion,
• an area ratio of α-Al2O3 crystal grains with (001) orientation in the lower layer portion being less than 35% in a crystal orientation mapping, the crystal orientation mapping being performed on a polished cross-sectional surface of the α-Al2O3 layer using an electron backscatter diffraction analysis apparatus,
• an area ratio of α-Al2O3 crystal grains with (001) orientation in the intermediate portion being 35% or more in the crystal orientation mapping,
• an area ratio of α-Al2O3 crystal grains with (001) orientation in the upper layer portion being less than 35% in the crystal orientation mapping,
• the α-Al2O3 layer having a thickness of 4 to 18 μm,
• a thickness of the intermediate portion occupying 50% or more of the thickness of the α-Al2O3 layer, and
• the lower layer portion and the upper layer portion each having a thickness of 1 μm or more.