A method for manufacturing an absorbent member (3) including an accumulating step including accumulating material for the absorbent member (3) carried by air flow in recesses (23) formed on an outer peripheral surface of a rotary drum (2) and a conveying step including transferring accumulations (32) in the recesses (23) onto conveying means (5) and conveying the accumulations (32) while the accumulations (32) being retained on conveying means (5). In the accumulating step, the material for the absorbent member (3) is accumulated in a plurality of the recesses (23) formed on the rotary drum (2) so as to be arranged in a width direction of the rotary drum (2). In the conveying step, the accumulations (32) are released from the recesses (23) onto the conveying means (5) under a suction force provided from the conveying means (5) and the released accumulations (32) are conveyed while being sucked.