A heat-sensitive recording material includes a support having successively disposed thereon: a heat-sensitive color-forming layer containing an electron-donating colorless dye and an electron-accepting compound; and a protective layer; wherein the heat-sensitive color-forming layer contains a water-soluble polymer and 4-hydroxybenzenesulfonanilide as the electron-accepting compound, and the protective layer contains at least one inorganic pigment selected from aluminum hydroxide, kaolin and amorphous silica. The electron-donating colorless dye is preferably at least one selected from 2-anilino-3-methyl-6-di-n-butylaminofluoran, 2-anilino-3-methyl-6-di-n-amylaminofluoran and 2-anilino-3-methyl-6-(N-ethyl-N-p-benzyl)aminofluoran.