Method for manufacturing an absorbent article, the method including: while a lower bandlike member is transported in a transport direction, a process in which a cutting position is determined and an adhesion area is formed by putting adhesive on each side of the cutting position of the lower bandlike member in the transport direction; a process in which elastic members are placed so that a part of each of the elastic members overlaps the adhesion area, the elastic members being stretched in the transport direction; a process in which an upper bandlike member is stacked on and adheres to the lower bandlike member and the elastic member on the adhesion area; a process in which the lower bandlike member and the upper bandlike member are folded on the center in the intersecting direction; a process in which a welded section on which the lower bandlike member and the upper bandlike member are to be welded to each other is formed on each side of the cutting position in the transport direction; a process in which and the lower bandlike member, the upper bandlike member and the elastic members are cut together on the cutting position, a lower exterior member and an upper exterior member which are shaped in the form of underpants are cut and separated, the elastic members which are stretched in the transport direction contract towards the adhesion area from positions at which the elastic members are cut, the contraction being performed while the elastic members shifting relative to the lower exterior member and the upper exterior member.