An image forming apparatus and sheet feeder in which a recording-material transporting system is provided for transporting to an image forming section recording material supplied from a recording-material supplying section and for subsequently guiding the recording material to a recording-material discharging section. A portion of the transporting path is arranged on a rear side of the apparatus body located on an opposite side to the user operation side. At least either one of the recording-material supplying section and the recording-material transporting system is provided with a jam clearing section for allowing recording material jammed in the recording-material transporting system to be both accessed from and cleared on the user operation side without need to open any access panels on the side portions or rear portion of the apparatus body. As a result the apparatus may be located without reserving space for opening a side or rear access portion.