A fixing device includes an endless fixing rotator, a heater, a nip formation pad, and a pressure rotator. The heater is disposed opposite an inner circumferential surface of the fixing rotator to heat the fixing rotator. The nip formation pad is disposed opposite the inner circumferential surface of the fixing rotator that is slidable over the nip formation pad. The pressure rotator is configured to press against the nip formation pad via the fixing rotator to form a fixing nip through which a recording medium bearing a toner image is conveyed while being sandwiched between the fixing rotator and the pressure rotator. The nip formation pad includes a base and a thermal equalizer having a thermal conductivity higher than a thermal conductivity of the base. The nip formation pad has a nip face opposite the fixing nip. The thermal equalizer is disposed in at least part of the nip face.