A vehicle rear body structure including: a cross member provided beneath a rear parcel shelf to connect upper ends of rear suspension towers; a strip member provided along a rear edge of a floor panel; and panel members provided between the cross member and the strip member to connect the cross member and the strip member. The panel members include a center panel and a pair of side panels arranged on outer sides in a vehicle transverse direction of the center panel, respectively. Each of the side panels is joined along an inner edge in the vehicle transverse direction thereof to the center panel by a continuous welding.