In a magnetic head, a center pad provided with a magnetic core is formed at the center of an edge at a trailing side of the recording medium opposing surface of a slider body. Two side pads are formed at both ends in the direction of the width at positions closer to a leading side than the center pad is located. A total value of the areas of the recording medium opposing surfaces of the two side pads is set to be larger than a value of the area of the recording medium opposing surface of the center pad. Each of the side pads has, at the leading side, a front stepped surface that is lower than the remaining portion.