PURPOSE: To provide a leveling method which can correct a lateral bending at the rear end part of a rough rolled stock accurately and surely.

CONSTITUTION: Bends at the tail part of the rough rolled stock 1 are detected by a shape detector 3 arranged on a table on the inlet side of finish rolling, correction for leveling is begun based on the detected value and according to a bent length in the time of rolling at the front stand 4 of finish rolling. Therefore, an optimum correction for leveling can be carried out, the bends of the tail end part of the rough rolled stock are straightened accurately and surely and a hot coil extremely excellent in dimensional accuracy is manufactured.