An image heating apparatus includes a first rotatable member, a second rotatable member contacting the first rotatable member, wherein a recording material passes between the first rotatable member and the second rotatable member, and a heating unit for heating the first rotatable member and having a third rotatable member contacting a surface of the first rotatable member, wherein releasability of a surface of the third rotatable member is higher than releasability of a surface of the second rotatable member. Thus, the image heating apparatus heats an image forming on a recording material without contaminating an external heating apparatus.