The present invention aims in a method wherein tetrachloroethylene (PCE) is reacted with HF in a gas phase in the presence of a catalyst to obtain pentafluoroethane (HFC-125), to reduce production of undesirable by-products and maintain a catalytic activity at a high level over a long period of time while achieving a high conversion ratio of PCE and suppressing deterioration of the catalyst.In a method for producing pentafluoroethane wherein tetrachloroethylene is reacted with HF in a gas phase in the presence of a catalyst to obtain pentafluoroethane, characterized in that chromium oxyfluoride is disposed in a reactor as the catalyst, and oxygen is fed into the reactor together with tetrachloroethylene and HF, at a amount of 0.4-1.8% by mole with respect to tetrachloroethylene.