A recording medium setting device includes a base plate on which recording media are set; guide members being moved in a width direction of the recording media that are set on the base plate; a contact detection unit detecting a contact between the guide members and the recording media; an approach unit moving the guide members in a direction so as to sandwich the recording media set on the base plate until the contact detection unit detects the contact between the guide members and the recording media; and an additional approach unit moving the guide members, moved by the approach unit, at a predetermined distance in the direction to squeeze the recording media after the contact detection unit detects the contact between the guide members and the recording media.