A recording apparatus includes a recording head, a sheet feed section configured to feed loaded recording sheets one by one toward the recording head, a carriage moving along a recording sheet and mounting the recording head thereon, a first detection unit configured to detect the width of the loaded recording sheet, and a second detection unit arranged in the carriage and configured to detect the width of the recording sheet as the carriage moves along the recording sheet. A detection area of the second detection unit is set based on the width of the loaded recording sheet detected by the first detection unit.