To provide a safe and effective coating film peeling agent and a method for peeling a coating material.

This method comprises bringing a softener for a coating material having as the effective component at least one member selected from among diethylene glycol alkyl ether, ethylene glycol alkyl ether, triethylene glycol alkyl ether, propylene glycol monoalkyl ether, dipropylene glycol monoalkyl ether, tripropylene glycol alkyl ether, or a mixture thereof into contact with the surface of a coating film and abrading the surface with an abrasive.