An image forming apparatus includes a carrier on which an electrostatic latent image is formed, a plurality of development cartridges which develop the electrostatic latent image with toner to form a toner image to be transferred to a recording sheet, and a changeover unit which changes the development cartridges so that any one of the development cartridges is moved so as to face a surface of the carrier for development. At least two of the development cartridges contain the same color toners. The changeover unit repeatedly changes the development cartridges before an expiration of lifetime of one of the development cartridges which is positioned so as to face the carrier for the development.