A fixing apparatus includes a heating element with an NTC characteristic in which an electric resistance value decreases as a temperature increases, which extends (i) in a direction parallel to a recording paper and (ii) in a width direction perpendicular to a carrying direction of the recording paper, and which has a longer length, in the width direction, than a width of the recording paper. The fixing apparatus further includes electrode sections provided in close proximity to both ends of the heating element in the width direction), the electrode sections being connected to the heating element, so that a current flows in the heating element in a direction substantially perpendicular to the carrying direction of the recording paper. This makes it possible to restrain excessive increase in temperature at the both ends of the heating element and to obtain a uniform temperature distribution.