A reciprocating compressor includes a cylinder that defines an inner space, a piston that is located in the inner space of the cylinder and that defines a compression space configured to receive refrigerant, a discharge cover that is coupled to a side of the cylinder and that defines a discharge space configured to receive refrigerant discharged from the compression space, and a valve plate that is located at a side space defined at the side of the cylinder and that partitions the side space into the compression space and the discharge space. The valve plate defines a discharge hole through which the compression space and the discharge space communicate with each other, in which the discharge hole includes an inlet that faces the compression space and an outlet that faces the discharge space. The inlet and the outlet have different shapes.