A spring steel wire includes, by mass %, C: 0.40% to 0.75%, Si: 1.00% to 5.00%, Mn: 0.20% to 2.00%, P: 0.0001% to 0.0500%, S: 0.0001% to 0.0500%, Cr: 0.50% to 3.50%, Al: 0.0005% to 0.0500%, N: 0.0020% to 0.0100%, Mo: 0% to 2.00%, V: 0% to 0.50%, W: 0% to 0.50%, Nb: 0% to 0.100%, Ti: 0% to 0.100%, Ca: 0% to 0.0100%, Mg: 0% to 0.0100%, Zr: 0% to 0.1000%. B: 0% to 0.0100%, Cu: 0% to 1.00%, Ni: 0% to 3.00%, and a remainder consisting of Fe and impurities. A structure includes, by area radio, tempered martensite of 90% or more. The prior austenite grain size number is No. 12.5 or higher. The presence density of iron-based carbide having an equivalent circle diameter ranging from 0.15 m to 0.50 m ranges from 0.40 pieces/m.sup.2 to 2.00 pieces/m.sup.2.

To provide a heat-treated steel excellent in both tensile strength and toughness.

A heat-treated steel contains 0.38 to 1.05% by mass of C, 0.0 to 1.0% by mass of Mn, 0.0 to 0.50% by mass of Cr, and 0.0 to 1.5% by mass of Si with the remainder being Fe and unavoidable impurities, wherein an average crystal grain size at a grain boundary setting angle of 15 is 10C+7 (m) or less (wherein, C represents a carbon content (%)).

To provide a heat-treated steel excellent in both tensile strength and toughness.

A heat-treated steel contains 0.38 to 1.05% by mass of C, 0.0 to 1.0% by mass of Mn, 0.0 to 0.50% by mass of Cr, and 0.0 to 1.5% by mass of Si with the remainder being Fe and unavoidable impurities, wherein an average crystal grain size at a grain boundary setting angle of 15 is 10C+7 (m) or less (wherein, C represents a carbon content (%)).