In an image forming apparatus, a transfer current output unit outputs a transfer current having a same value as a target value to a nip forming member to transfer a toner image on a latent image carrier to the nip forming member to determine the target value based on an algorithm representing a relationship between an image area ratio of the toner image and the target value and the image area ratio, and in an algorithm for a second transfer step in which the toner image is transferred to be superimposed on the toner image of the nip forming member to which the toner image has been transferred, a smaller target value is related to a same image area ratio compared to the algorithm for a first transfer step in which the toner image is transferred to the nip forming member to which no toner image is transferred.