A magnetic recording medium having a magnetic layer containing magnetic powder provided on a support is disclosed. The magnetic layer possesses a servo band in which a servo signal for controlling tracking of a magnetic head, and a data band on which a data is recorded. The servo signal is magnetized and recorded on the servo band, having been magnetized in one direction of the track direction thereof, in the direction other than the one direction. The thickness of the magnetic layer ranging from 10 to 180 .mu.m, and variation [standard deviation of Mrt] of the product [Mrt] of the residual magnetism by the thickness of the magnetic field being not more than 30%.