The present invention provides a sheet feeding apparatus for separating and feeding sheets one by one, which has sheet stacking device for supporting sheets, a sheet feeding roller, provided at its periphery with a cylindrical surface and a cut-out portion, for feeding out the sheet stacked on the sheet stacking device by means of the cylindrical surface by rotating, separation device, capable of abutting against the sheet feeding roller, for separating the sheets one by one between the cylindrical surface of the sheet feeding roller and the separation device, spacing device for spacing apart the sheet feeding roller and the separation device when the cut-out portion of the sheet feeding roller is opposed to the separation device, biasing device for biasing the separation device to urge it against the sheet feeding roller or the spacing device, and conveying load reducing device for reducing a conveying load acting on the sheet being fed, by making an abutment force for pinching the sheet between the spacing device and the separation device smaller than an abutment force for pinching the sheet between the cylindrical surface and the separation device.