An image forming apparatus includes: plural image carriers that are disposed at intervals and in a line, and that are driven to rotate while carrying images; an intermediate transfer belt that have an endless shape, and that is disposed to be laid on plural rolls so as to be able to contact the image carriers; plural transfer rolls that rotate while being brought into contact with the image carriers through the intermediate transfer belt in a first position, respectively, so as to transfer the images on the image carriers to the intermediate transfer belt; and a moving mechanism that moves a part of the plural transfer rolls to a second position keeping apart from the plural image carriers while the part of the plural transfer rolls are kept in contact with the intermediate transfer belt.