In order to provide a surface shape measuring apparatus and a surface shape measuring method capable of detecting a distortion on the curved surface of a work precisely, a laser displacement meter 17 disposed to the outside surface of a door panel 51 of a curved shape at a confronting position, a Z-axis servo motor 24 to move the laser displacement meter 17 along the top-and-bottom direction with respect to the outside surface of the door panel 51, an X-axis servo motor 22 to move the laser displacement meter 17 along the left-and-right direction, and a Y-axis servo motor 26 to move the laser displacement meter 17 along an confronting direction in which the laser displacement meter 17 and the outside surface of the door panel 51 oppose each other, are provided, and a CPU 21 controls the Y-axis servo motor 26 in such a manner that a constant distance is maintained in the confronting direction between the laser displacement meter 17 and the outside surface of the door panel 51.