Provided is a method for manufacturing a coil element, which does not adversely affect the coil element pattern after taking out for use. A method for manufacturing a coil element using a transferring mold, includes: preparing a transferring mold, on a surface of which an inverted coil element pattern is engraved, the transferring mold having at least a surface part made of metal; forming a center conductive film by first electroplating at the transferring mold as a whole so as to have a thickness exceeding a thickness of an area where the inverted coil element pattern is engraved; removing the center conductive film from a surface by a predetermined thickness by polishing or grinding so as to flatten the surface of the center conductive film; releasing the flattened center conductive film from the transferring mold; coating a protective film at a surface as a whole of the released center conductive film on a side where the coil element pattern is formed; etching the center conductive film for removal from the side subjected to the flattening so that the side reaches the protective film; and removing the protective film and taking out the center conductive film.