An outer column for a telescopic steering apparatus, comprising: a slit that is formed in one end section in the axial direction; a pair of held plate sections (20a, 20b) that are provided in positions that surround the slit on both sides in the width direction, and in which long holes that extend in the axial direction are formed in portions that are aligned with each other; and a lock through hole that is formed in a portion that is separated in the axial direction from the pair of held plate sections (20a, 20b), with the phase in the circumferential direction thereof being shifted from the center axis of the slit; wherein the slit has an H shape as seen from the radial direction, and comprises a main slit section that is formed in the axial direction, and a pair of sub slit sections (52a, 52b) that are formed in the circumferential direction on both end sections in the axial direction of the main slit section, with the middle sections in the circumferential direction thereof being continuous with the end sections in the axial direction of the main slit section; characterized in that the lengths in the circumferential direction from the main slit section of both the nearest end section of the two end sections (58a, 58b) of one sub slit section of the pair of sub slit sections (52a, 52b) on the side in the axial direction near the lock through hole that exists in the portion in the circumferential direction near the lock through hole, and the furthest end section of the two end section (59a, 59b) of the other sub slit section on the far side in the axial direction from the lock through hole that exists in a position that is separated the most from the lock through hole are shorter than the lengths in the circumferential direction from the main slit section of the other end section of the one sub slit section and the other sub slit section, and the rigidity in the direction of expansion or contraction of the width of the slit of the portions where the nearest end section and the furthest end section are formed is greater than the rigidity in the direction of expansion or contraction of the width of the slit of the portion where the other end sections of the one sub slit section and the other sub slit section are formed; and convex sections (61a-61d) that protrude outward in the width direction and extend in the axial direction are provided at two locations on the outside surfaces of the pair of held plate sections (20a, 20b) that are separated in the up/down direction, and a support section that protrudes outward in the width direction is provided in the portion on the outside surface of the held plate section of the pair of held plate sections (20a, 20b) that is on the far side in the circumferential direction from the lock through hole between the convex sections (6la-61d) in the up/down direction of the end section on the far side from the lock through hole. a slit that is formed in one end section in the axial direction; a pair of held plate sections (20a, 20b) that are provided in positions that surround the slit on both sides in the width direction, and in which long holes that extend in the axial direction are formed in portions that are aligned with each other; and a lock through hole that is formed in a portion that is separated in the axial direction from the pair of held plate sections (20a, 20b), with the phase in the circumferential direction thereof being shifted from the center axis of the slit; wherein the slit has an H shape as seen from the radial direction, and comprises a main slit section that is formed in the axial direction, and a pair of sub slit sections (52a, 52b) that are formed in the circumferential direction on both end sections in the axial direction of the main slit section, with the middle sections in the circumferential direction thereof being continuous with the end sections in the axial direction of the main slit section;