An image heating apparatus includes: an endless belt; a heater for heating the belt, the heater forms a sliding portion between an inner surface of the belt and the heater; a rotatable member cooperative with the heater to sandwich the belt to form a nip between an outer peripheral surface of the belt and the rotatable member; a temperature detector provided on a surface of the heater relatively more remote from the sliding portion than the heater; a controller for controlling the timing of feeding the sheet to the nip on the basis of an output of the detector; and lubricant provided in at least a part of the sliding portion except for a range which is in an opposing relation with the detector. The sliding portion is free of the lubricant in the range.