A printing apparatus includes a transport unit which transports a recording medium in a transport direction; a printing unit which prints an image and a mark on the recording medium; and a mark detecting unit which is located on an upstream side of the printing unit in the transport direction, and detects a mark, includes a function of automatically adjusting a detecting sensitivity of the mark detecting unit, and obtains a printing start position using the mark, in which the mark detecting unit has a timer function including an ON delay in which a time between detecting of a mark and outputting of a detecting signal of ON is delayed, uses the timer function when obtaining the printing start position, and does not use the timer function when performing the automatic adjusting.