A method of manufacturing a perpendicular magnetic head is disclosed, including perpendicular magnetic recording head includes forming a primary magnetic pole having a flat top surface, where a shield layer over the primary magnetic pole and at the sides of the primary magnetic pole is formed in a single piece. The distance in the direction perpendicular to the thickness direction between the side surfaces of the primary magnetic pole and the side shield layer is longer than the distance in the thickness direction between the top surface of the primary magnetic pole and the shield layer.