Provided is a sputtering target containing SiO2 for a magnetic recording film, wherein a ratio of the peak intensity of cristobalites, which are crystallized SiO2, to the background intensity (cristobalite peak intensity/background intensity) in an X-ray diffraction is 1.40 or less. The present invention aims to obtain a sputtering target for a magnetic recording film capable of inhibiting the formation of cristobalites in the target which cause the generation of particles during sputtering, and shortening the burn-in time.