A sheet adjusting device, applicable to a sheet holding receptacle and an image forming apparatus, includes a sheet setting plate to place a sheet thereon, first and second regulating member to slidably move in a given direction, and a drive transmission unit to transmit a driving power generated by a driving power source to at least the first regulating member and move the first regulating member in the given direction and to include a torque limiting unit to stop the first regulating member moving on the sheet setting plate by cutting off transmission of the driving power between a driven side transmission roller unit of the torque limiting unit and a driving side transmission roller unit of the torque limiting unit when a torque exceeding a given threshold is applied to the driven side transmission roller unit.