An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier that carries toner images, and an intermediate transfer member onto which the toner images are primarily transferred, sequentially from a first toner image, from the image carrier. A primary transfer bias applied upon primary transfer of the first toner image is higher than a primary transfer bias applied upon primary transfer of other toner images. The intermediate transfer member has a surface potential attenuation ratio such that residual potential of the intermediate transfer member applied with a voltage of 500 volts becomes equal to or lower than 250 volts after five seconds.