Provided is an electrolyte containing tetrafluoroaluminate ions, which is advantageous in that the electrolyte can be prevented from leaking from both the cathode and the anode in an electrolytic capacitor.An electrolyte for electrolytic capacitor, which comprises: (A) a tetrafluoroaluminate ion, and (B) at least one compound selected from the group consisting of: (1) at least one compound selected from the group consisting of a phthalimide, a quinoline, a dioxime, a nitrophenol and an amino group-containing aromatic carboxylic acid; (2) at least one compound selected from the group consisting of an aluminum complex, a boric acid ester and a silicic acid ester; (3) at least one compound selected from the group consisting of a monocyclic quinone compound and a bicyclic quinone compound; (4) a tricyclic or higher polycyclic quinone compound; and (5) at least one compound selected from a heteropoly acid and a salt thereof, an electrolyte for electrolytic capacitor containing a tetrafluoroaluminate ion, which has a self-potential of −0.95 V or more with respect to aluminum in the electrolyte, relative to an I3−/I− reference electrode, and an electrolytic capacitor using the same.