Provided is a method for manufacturing a diffractive optical element. The method for manufacturing a diffractive optical element may comprise: a step of preparing an imprinting stamp including a stamp pattern in which peaks and valleys having a curved shape are alternately and repeatedly arranged; a step of preparing a base structure in which a coating layer including a photocurable polymer and nanoparticles is formed on a base substrate; and a step of applying pressure to the coating layer of the base structure using the imprinting stamp to form, in the coating layer, a base pattern having the inverse image of the stamp pattern.