A honeycomb structure is disclosed that includes plural through-holes separated by plural partition walls and provided in parallel along a longitudinal direction, wherein the thickness of each of the partition walls is less than or equal to about 0.25 mm, the length of each of the through-holes is equal to or greater than about 50-fold of a hydraulic diameter of each of the through-holes and less than or equal to about 350-fold of the hydraulic diameter of each of the through-holes, and an open area ratio (X) % of a cross section of the honeycomb structure perpendicular to the through-holes and a surface area per unit volume (Y (m2/L)) satisfy Y≧250×X+22500 (about 50≦X≦about 85).