A multi-directional operating switch is disclosed, comprising a housing having a bottomed receptacle portion, a central fixed contact portion disposed on an inner bottom surface of the receptacle portion, peripheral fixed contact portions disposed on a peripheral surface with respect to the central fixed contact portion, a plurality of movable contacts disposed respectively in opposition to the central and peripheral fixed contact portions, and a step for depressing the plural movable contacts selectively to switch over from one contact to another, wherein the movable contacts are disposed within the receptacle portion of the housing in such a manner that in the depressing direction of the stem the movable contact disposed in opposition to the central fixed contact portion and the movable contacts disposed in opposition to the peripheral fixed contact portions are spaced a predetermined distance from each other, while in a direction perpendicular to the stem depressing direction they partially overlap each other in their external forms.