Provided are a hydroxyalkylalkyl cellulose excellent in formability and not causing marked delay in disintegration when added even in a small amount a solid preparation comprising the hydroxyalkylalkyl cellulose and a method for producing the solid preparation. More specifically, provided are a hydroxyalkylalkyl cellulose for tableting having a specific surface area of from 0.5 to 5.0 m 2 /g as measured by BET and a solid preparation comprising the hydroxyalkylalkyl cellulose. Also provided is a method for producing the hydroxyalkylalkyl cellulose for tableting, comprising the steps of: bringing pulp into contact with an alkali metal hydroxide solution to obtain an alkali cellulose, reacting the alkali cellulose with an etherifying agent to obtain a first hydroxyalkylalkyl cellulose, grinding the first hydroxyalkylalkyl cellulose, and subjecting the ground first hydroxyalkylalkyl cellulose to hydrolysis in the presence of an acid catalyst or oxidative degradation in the presence of an oxidant to obtain a second hydroxyalkylalkyl cellulose.
