A solder ball loading apparatus for loading solder balls onto pads of a printed wiring board includes a holding device for holding a printed wiring board having pads and holding a ball array mask having of openings that correspond to pads of the printed wiring board, one or more cylinder members positioned over the holding device such that an opening portion of the cylinder member faces the holding device, the cylinder member gathering solder balls on the surface of the ball array mask under the cylinder member by suctioning air through the opening portion of the cylinder member, and a conveyor mechanism for moving the ball array mask and the printed wiring board relative to the cylinder member such that solder balls gathered under the opening portion of the cylinder member can be loaded onto the pads of the printed wiring board through the openings of the ball array mask held by the holding device.