An R-T-B based sintered magnet containing a first heavy rare earth element, in which R includes Nd, T includes Co and Fe, the first heavy rare earth element includes Tb or Dy, the R-T-B based sintered magnet has a region in which a concentration of the first heavy rare earth element decreases from the surface toward the inside, a first grain boundary phase which contains the first heavy rare earth element and Nd but does not contain Co is present in one cross section including the region, and an area occupied by the first grain boundary phase in one cross section including the region is 1.8% or less.