There is disclosed an image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member; a charging device to charge the image bearing member; an exposing device to form a latent image on the image bearing member; a developing device to form a toner image on the image bearing member; a transferring device to transfer the toner image onto an intermediate transfer member by applying a transfer bias voltage; an image stabilization controlling section for keeping a density of the toner image transferred onto the intermediate transfer member within a predetermined range; a transfer output controlling section for controlling a transfer output based on a density of a toner patch image; and an overall controlling section to control both the image stabilization controlling section and the transfer output controlling section, in such a manner that the image stabilization controlling operation is conducted preceding to the transfer output controlling operation.