Abstract: A production method for an aerogel includes a sol generation step by adding a silicon compound to an aqueous solution containing an acid catalyst and performing hydrolysis, where the silicon compound contains at least a quadri-functional silane compound and a tri-functional silane compound among quadri-functional silane compounds, tri-functional silane compounds, and di-functional silane compounds, the density of the aerogel is 0.15 g/cm3 or less, for example the silicon compound is a mixture of a quadri-functional silane compound, a tri-functional silane compound, and a di-functional silane compound having portions satisfying 0<Qx<50, 50?Tx<100, 0?Dx<30, and Qx+Tx+Dx=100, where Qx, Tx, and Dx represent the mass percentages of the quadri-functional silane compound, the tri-functional silane compound, and the di-functional silane compound, respectively. This provides aerogel having excellent thermal insulating characteristics and a large area.