An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier (40), an endless belt (10) whose front surface moves endlessly and contacts the image carrier to form a transfer nip, and a bias applying roller (62) configured to apply a transfer bias to a back surface of the endless belt. An image is formed of a toner having an additive embedded rate of not less than 40 percent. The toner includes a mother particle having a binder resin and a colorant, and an external additive. The bias applying roller (62) is located so as to satisfy a relationship, L > (A/2)+(B/2)+C, where A is a diameter of the image carrier (40), B is a diameter of the bias applying roller (62), C is a thickness of the endless belt (10), and L is a distance between centers of the image carrier and the bias applying roller, on a virtual plane perpendicular to an axis direction of the image carrier.