An image forming apparatus includes: a sheet feeding unit configured to feed a plurality of sheets to an image forming unit one by one; the image forming unit configured to form a toner image based on image data; a fixing unit configured to fix the toner image formed on each sheet by the image forming unit with a fixing member, the fixing unit including the fixing member configured to be brought into contact with each sheet supplied from the image forming unit and heat each sheet; a measuring unit configured to measure a temperature of the fixing member; and a control unit configured to instruct the fixing unit to start and stop a temperature increasing operation, and provide the image data to the image forming unit, wherein the control unit includes: a temperature drop rate calculating unit; a temperature rise rate predicting unit; and an instructing unit.