To produce steel for a machine structure in which the issue that intergranular embrittlement is generated at the time of hot rolling and hot forging in steel for machine structure contg. Pb or Bi to easily cause flaws or cracks is solved, the hot workability of the steel is satisfactory, and excellent machinability and strength characteristics are provided.

This free-cutting steel for machine structure excellent in hot workability contains, by weight, 0.10 to 0.65% C, 0.03 to 2.00% Si, 0.30 to 2.50% Mn, 0.015 to 0.35% S, 0.005 to 0.060% Al, 0.0005 to 0.0100% B and 0.005 to 0.020% N in the range of B/N: 0.3 to 1.2, and contains one or two kinds of 0.01 to 0.30% Pb and 0.01 to 0.30% Bi, and the balance Fe with inevitable impurities.