An elevator brake device is provided with: a movable section 14 capable of being displaced in the direction perpendicular to a guide rail 5 which serves as a braking surface; a pivoting sliding section 16 provided so as to be capable of pivoting relative to the movable section 14 and coming in contact with the braking surface when caused to pivot; a motor 20 for causing the pivoting sliding section 16 to pivot; and an electromagnet 21 and a pressing spring 22, which, when electric power is shut off, displace the pivoting sliding section 16 in the direction in which the pivoting sliding section 16 comes in contact with the braking surface. In normal operation, the motor 20 causes the pivoting sliding section 16 to pivot to bring the pivoting sliding section 16 and the braking surface into contact with each other, and consequently the braking surface is held, and in an emergency, the power source of the electric magnet 21 is shut off to bring the pivoting sliding section 16 into contact with the braking surface, thereby braking the braking surface.