Provided is a surface-coated tool, such as a cutting tool, in which a surface of a substrate 2 is coated with a coating layer 6. The coating layer 6 comprises a lower layer 8 and an upper layer 9. The lower layer 8 and the upper layer 9 are both composed of columnar particles 10 extending vertically with respect to the surface of the substrate 2. The mean crystal width of the columnar particles 10b constituting the upper layer 9 is smaller than the mean crystal width of the columnar particles constituting the lower layer. Dispersed particles containing tungsten exist in both the lower layer and the upper layer. The distribution density of the dispersed particles existing in the upper layer is smaller than the distribution density of the dispersed particles existing in the lower layer. The surface-coated tool includes the coating layer to improve wear resistance and fracture resistance.