The present invention provides an optical element manufacturing method including a first step of fixing an optical material by exerting a first weight different from a self weight of an upper die on the optical material positioned in a cavity between the upper die and a lower die, a second step of thereafter heating and softening the optical material by introducing a heated gas to an inside of the cavity, and a third step of thereafter molding an optical element by exerting a second weight larger than the first weight on the optical material within the cavity.