A sheet feeding apparatus has a sheet accommodating portion, a sheet stacking portion, a lift mechanism, a driving portion provided, and a
damper portion. The lift mechanism can be engaged with and disengaged from the driving portion, and if the engagement between the lift mechanism and the driving portion is released, the lift mechanism lowers the sheet stacking portion, the
damper portion is engaged with the lift mechanism, and if the engagement between the lift mechanism and the driving portion is released, the
damper portion exerts damper effect on the lift mechanism to reduce a lowering speed of the sheet stacking portion, and wherein the damper portion does not exert the damper effect on the lift mechanism until the sheet stacking portion is lowered by a predetermined amount after the engagement between the lift mechanism and the driving portion is released.