There is provided a paper-sheet feeding unit capable of achieving reduction in cost and size by omitting installation of a torque limiter, and of property feeding out plural kinds of paper sheets having different thicknesses and/or stiffnesses. A paper-sheet feeding unit (1) includes: a feed roller (10) configured to be rotated when feeding out a paper sheet, the feed roller having a high friction portion (14a) placed on a part of a circumference of an outer circumferential surface thereof, and a low friction portion (15) placed on a location of the outer circumferential surface thereof other than the high friction portion, the low friction portion having a frictional coefficient smaller than that of the high friction portion; and a gate member (20) arranged to be pressed against the outer circumferential surface of the feed roller, the gate member constituting a gate section configured to separate, one by one, the paper sheets fed out by the feed roller.