A light emitting device has: a light emitting element; a lead that is electrically connected to the light emitting element at its one end and serves as a terminal to supply a power source to the light emitting element; a metal base that the light emitting element is mounted thereon and radiates heat of the light emitting element; and a sealing member that is of transparent resin or glass and covers the light emitting element. The lead is secured to the metal base by a heat-resisting insulating member with a thermal expansion coefficient nearly equal to that of the metal base.