An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier, an endless belt whose front surface contacts the image carrier to form a transfer nip, and a bias applying roller configured to apply a transfer bias to a back surface of the endless belt. An image is formed of a toner having an additive embedded rate of not less than 40 percent and including a mother particle having a binder resin and a colorant, and an external additive. The bias applying roller is located so as to satisfy a relationship, L>(A/2)+(B/2)+C, where A is a diameter of the image carrier, B is a diameter of the bias applying roller, C is a thickness of the endless belt, and L is a distance between centers of the image carrier and the bias applying roller on a virtual plane perpendicular to an axis direction of the image carrier.