A method for manufacturing a panel-like formed article having a polygonal top sheet portion, standing wall portions extending from, out of sides of the top sheet portion, at least two adjacent sides, and a level difference portion provided in each of the standing wall portions constituting at least one set of adjacent standing wall portions, the method comprising: preparing a blank material made of a metal sheet having a tensile strength of 390 MPa or more and 980 MPa or less; and press-forming the blank material in a cold manner to form the blank material into the panel-like formed article, wherein, in the press-forming, by using a pressing apparatus having a die which has a contour-carving portion in which a shape of the panel-like formed article is formed, a first punch which faces the die and has a front end surface in which a shape of the top sheet portion is formed, a second punch which is adjacent to an outside of the first punch, faces the die, and has a front end surface in which a shape of the level difference portion is formed, and a blank holder which is adjacent to at least a part of an outside of the second punch and faces the die, wherein the first punch, the second punch, and the blank holder are respectively attached to individually movable slides, the blank material is disposed between the die and the blank holder, the first punch, and the second punch, the blank holder, the first punch, and the second punch are relatively moved with respect to the die, thereby pressing the first punch and the second punch to the blank material, holding of the blank material by the blank holder and the die is carried out until completion of forming by the second punch, and pressing of the second punch to the blank material is completed earlier than pressing of the first punch to the blank material. preparing a blank material made of a metal sheet having a tensile strength of 390 MPa or more and 980 MPa or less; and press-forming the blank material in a cold manner to form the blank material into the panel-like formed article, wherein, in the press-forming, by using a pressing apparatus having a die which has a contour-carving portion in which a shape of the panel-like formed article is formed, a first punch which faces the die and has a front end surface in which a shape of the top sheet portion is formed, a second punch which is adjacent to an outside of the first punch, faces the die, and has a front end surface in which a shape of the level difference portion is formed, and a blank holder which is adjacent to at least a part of an outside of the second punch and faces the die, wherein the first punch, the second punch, and the blank holder are respectively attached to individually movable slides, the blank material is disposed between the die and the blank holder, the first punch, and the second punch, the blank holder, the first punch, and the second punch are relatively moved with respect to the die, thereby pressing the first punch and the second punch to the blank material, holding of the blank material by the blank holder and the die is carried out until completion of forming by the second punch, and pressing of the second punch to the blank material is completed earlier than pressing of the first punch to the blank material.