A valve seat is provided in which wear resistance can be ensured by optimizing the matrix structure without dispersing of expensive hard particles, and therefore the machinability can be improved and the holding down of cost can be achieved. The valve seat exhibits a metallographic structure consisting of only bainite single phase or only a mixed phase of bainite and martensite, has an area ratio of bainite and martensite in cross section of 100:0 to 50:50, and has a matrix hardness of 250 to 850 Hv.