Disclosed is a method for producing a water absorbent resin, by which a surface-crosslinked water absorbent resin having excellent physical properties can be efficiently obtained at low cost, while assuring high productivity. When the production scale is increased to a continuous production at 1 t/hr or more, the physical properties are improved and stabilized (for example, standard deviation of the physical properties is reduced) by a surface-crosslinking treatment, and the absorption against pressure (AAP) and liquid permeability (SFC) are further improved. Specifically disclosed is a method for producing a water absorbent resin, which is characterized in that the stirring shaft of the continuous mixing apparatus for the surface-crosslinking agent is heated during the mixing step of the surface-crosslinking agent or that the continuous mixing apparatus for the surface-crosslinldng agent is operated at a pressure that is reduced relative to the ambient pressure and a gas flow is passed through the mixing apparatus during the mixing of the surface-crosslinking agent so that the gas flow in the mixing apparatus is 40°C or more (when defined with respect to the gas temperature at the exit).
