There is provided a profile measuring apparatus, including: an irradiation section configured to irradiate a measurement light to a measurement area of the object; an imaging section configured to obtain an image of the measurement area; a table configured to place the object thereon; a coordinate calculation section configured to calculate a position of the measurement area based on an image detected by a detection section; and a positioning mechanism configured to drive and control a relative position of the imaging section and the table. The positioning mechanism calculates a relative position of the imaging section to the table, based on an information with respect to an edge line direction of a convex portion or an extending direction of a concave portion in the measurement area of the object having a repetitive concave-convex shape, to move at least one of the table and the imaging section.