A charge member that can reduce charge irregularities of a member to be charged caused by variations in the gap between the member to be charged and the charge member even when using a member to be charged (photosensitive member, and the like) that has circumferential fluctuations. The charge member which is arranged electrically without making contact with the member to be charged, and which charges the member to be charged by applying AC voltage superimposed on DC voltage, and which is formed of a rotatable roller, is arranged electrically without making contact with the member to be charged having circumferential fluctuations of 4 to 80 .mu.m within the image formation area, and which has a plurality of stage differences with a height difference of 2 to 30 .mu.m on the surface of the roller; and the stage differences in the area opposing the member to be charged are five to thirty in relation to a distance of 0.5 mm in the circumferential direction of the roller. Charging without charge irregularities is thereby possible.