A non-contacting position detecting apparatus includes a laser unit having a light emitting portion and a light receiving portion for irradiating laser light upon a detection point of a subject for measurement and receiving laser light reflected from the detection point to recognize the distance to the detection point. An arm is capable of moving the laser unit in the direction of at least one axis of a rectangular coordinate system. A coordinate detecting member is provided for detecting coordinates of the arm. Coordinates of the detection point are recognized in accordance with the coordinates of the arm when the positional relationship between the detection point and the laser unit reaches a predetermined relationship. The laser unit includes a needle-like indicating member for indicating the crossing point between extension lines of an optic axis of laser light radiated from the light emitting portion and an optic axis of laser light received by the light receiving portion when the detection point and the laser unit reach the predetermined positional relationship.