A thermal recording material is provided including a substrate, a thermal coloring layer located overlying the substrate, and a protective layer located overlying the thermal coloring layer. The protective layer includes a binder resin, a crosslinker, a filler; and a release agent. The release agent is a spherical and particulate silicone compound having the following formula: (CH.sub.3SiO.sub.3/2).sub.n, wherein n represents an integer greater than 15.