A lapping apparatus lapping a work having a pre-machined surface comprises a lapping film which includes a thin substrate having a surface provided with abrasive grains, a shoe disposed at a back surface side of the lapping film, a shoe driving unit which drives the shoe toward the work in order to press the abrasive-grained surface of the lapping film to the pre-machined surface of the work, a rotational driving unit which drives the work rotationally, a detecting unit which detects the position of the rotating work in the rotating direction, and a controlling unit which controls the pressing force of the shoe driving unit so as to drive the shoe correspondingly to the position of the work in the rotating direction during machining.