An optical scanning apparatus includes light source units; a deflecting unit, incident optical systems provided so as to correspond to the light source units, and at least one synchronous detection optical system that controls a timing at which the light beams form images on the surfaces to be scanned. The synchronous detection optical system includes a synchronous detection element, at least one optical path changing unit, and at least one synchronous detection optical element. The synchronous detection element is attached to a circuit substrate of the light source unit arranged to oppose the light source unit that emits a light beam used for synchronous detection, with the deflecting unit therebetween. The synchronous detection optical element and the synchronous detection element are arranged to oppose each other with respect to a line perpendicular to lines connecting a deflection axis of the deflecting unit and optical axes of the imaging optical systems.