A surface protective film that exhibits superior adhesiveness to an adherend and exhibits only small differences in peel strength according to the surface state of an adherend is provided. The surface protective film 10 is provided with an acrylic pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) layer 2 on one side of a support 1, and satisfies the following conditions: a thickness reduction ratio (indentation strain E1) when a compressive stress of 0.195 MPa is applied for 10 minutes to a laminate 20 obtained by laminating 24 of the protective films 10 is 7.0% or more, and a ratio (E1/E2) of E1 to a thickness reduction ratio (permanent strain) E2 that remains 10 minutes after the stress is released is 30 or less; and a peel strength S1 on a plain TAC polarizing plate is two times or less a peel strength S2 on a TAG polarizing plate that has been subjected to AG treatment.