A piezoelectric element includes a first electrode; a piezoelectric layered film composed of a first piezoelectric film formed on the first electrode film and a second piezoelectric film that is formed on the first piezoelectric film and is controlled in crystal orientation thereof by the first piezoelectric film; and a second electrode film formed on the second piezoelectric film. Each of the first and second piezoelectric films is an aggregate of columnar grains grown unidirectionally along a thickness direction of the piezoelectric layered film. A columnar grain of the second piezoelectric film has a larger cross-sectional diameter than a columnar grain of the first piezoelectric film. A ratio l/d of the thickness l of the piezoelectric layered film to the cross-sectional diameter d of the second piezoelectric film is not less than 20 and not more than 60.