A scale (2, 2") to be used for a vernier encoder including a sensor relatively movable with the scale in a first direction and configured to read periodic patterns provided in the scale, the scale comprising: a first scale track (8, 8") including a first fine periodic pattern (111, 511) having a first period in a first direction and a first coarse periodic pattern (112, 512) having a period in the first direction, which is larger than the first period, wherein the first fine periodic pattern has the shortest period in the first scale track; and a second scale track (11, 11") including a second fine periodic pattern (211, 611) having a second period in the first direction and a second coarse periodic pattern (212, 612) having a period in the first direction, which is larger than the second period, wherein the second fine periodic pattern has the shortest period in the second scale track, wherein the first scale track (8, 8") and the second scale track (11, 11") are arranged parallel in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction, characterized in that the first period of the first fine periodic pattern (111, 511) and the second period of the second fine periodic pattern (211, 611) are different from each other, and the period of the first coarse periodic pattern (112, 512) and the period of the second coarse periodic pattern (212, 612) are different from each other, the first fine periodic pattern (111, 511) and the second fine periodic pattern (211, 611) are used for producing a predetermined periodic signal by performing vernier operation on a signal obtained by reading the first fine periodic pattern by the sensor and a signal obtained by reading the second fine periodic pattern by the sensor, the first coarse periodic pattern (112, 512) and the second coarse periodic pattern (212, 612) are used for producing a periodic signal, whose period is larger than that of the predetermined periodic signal, by performing vernier operation on a signal obtained by reading the first coarse periodic pattern by the sensor and a signal obtained by reading the second coarse periodic pattern by the sensor, and the first fine periodic pattern (111, 511) included in the first scale track (8, 8") is arranged closest to the second scale track (11, 11"), and the second fine periodic pattern (211, 611) included in the second scale track (11, 11") is arranged closest to the first scale track (8, 8"). a first scale track (8, 8") including a first fine periodic pattern (111, 511) having a first period in a first direction and a first coarse periodic pattern (112, 512) having a period in the first direction, which is larger than the first period, wherein the first fine periodic pattern has the shortest period in the first scale track; and a second scale track (11, 11") including a second fine periodic pattern (211, 611) having a second period in the first direction and a second coarse periodic pattern (212, 612) having a period in the first direction, which is larger than the second period, wherein the second fine periodic pattern has the shortest period in the second scale track, wherein the first scale track (8, 8") and the second scale track (11, 11") are arranged parallel in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction, characterized in that the first period of the first fine periodic pattern (111, 511) and the second period of the second fine periodic pattern (211, 611) are different from each other, and the period of the first coarse periodic pattern (112, 512) and the period of the second coarse periodic pattern (212, 612) are different from each other, the first fine periodic pattern (111, 511) and the second fine periodic pattern (211, 611) are used for producing a predetermined periodic signal by performing vernier operation on a signal obtained by reading the first fine periodic pattern by the sensor and a signal obtained by reading the second fine periodic pattern by the sensor, the first coarse periodic pattern (112, 512) and the second coarse periodic pattern (212, 612) are used for producing a periodic signal, whose period is larger than that of the predetermined periodic signal, by performing vernier operation on a signal obtained by reading the first coarse periodic pattern by the sensor and a signal obtained by reading the second coarse periodic pattern by the sensor, and the first fine periodic pattern (111, 511) included in the first scale track (8, 8") is arranged closest to the second scale track (11, 11"), and the second fine periodic pattern (211, 611) included in the second scale track (11, 11") is arranged closest to the first scale track (8, 8").