A drying device having a travel path along which a web (W) of paper travels, a plurality of drying ovens arranged side by side along the travel path, a plurality of conveyor rolls provided in each of the drying ovens to convey the web (W) along the travel path, a plurality of roll units each constituted by one or more of the conveyor rolls and separated from each other along the travel path, and a plurality of conveyor motors connected to the respective roll units to rotate the conveyor rolls, wherein a downstream one of the roll units with respect to the travel path is rotated at a lower rotating speed than an upstream one of the roll units.