To provide a method for purifying tetrafluoroethylene by removing, from tetrafluoroethylene containing a polymerization inhibitor, the polymerization inhibitor by adsorption.A method of bringing tetrafluoroethylene containing a polymerization inhibitor into contact with a silica gel containing a metal salt in an amount of from 250 to 100,000 mass ppm as calculated as metal atoms to remove the polymerization inhibitor by adsorption, and the metal salt is preferably a salt of a metal of Group 3 to 13 of the Periodic Table, more preferably a salt of a metal of Group 8 to 10 of the Periodic Table. For example, as the metal salt, a salt of at least one metal selected from the group consisting of iron, cobalt, nickel, ruthenium, rhodium, palladium, osmium, iridium and platinum may be used.