A diffraction grating element including a diffraction grating area which includes: a first area that is one of two areas into which the diffraction grating area is divided by a first straight line, and is divided, by a second straight line perpendicular to the first straight line, into a first sub-area having a first diffraction grating pattern and a second sub-area having a second diffraction grating pattern, the first and second diffraction grating patterns having different diffraction angles; and a second area that is the other of the two areas into which the diffraction grating area is divided by the first straight line, and is divided into three or more divisional areas that align in a direction perpendicular to the second straight line, the first and second diffraction grating patterns being alternately assigned to each of the divisional areas.