To provide a paper feeder provided with a lift mechanism having no malfunction at a low cost and allowing the smooth paper feed by a paper feed means even after a paper mount section is lifted.

Paper P is loaded on a paper mount section 2, and the paper mount section 2 is lifted by a lift mechanism 7 so that the paper P at the highest position among the paper P loaded on the paper mount section 2 is kept at the prescribed height. This lift mechanism 7 has no malfunction at a low cost because it uses no electric sensor and no electric actuator. A paper pressing means 21 detecting the height position of the paper P at the highest position is located at the tip in the paper feeding direction of the paper P, the height position of the tip section in the paper feeding direction of the paper P at the highest position is kept nearly constant even when the quantity of the paper P loaded on the paper mount section 2 is decreased and the tilt angle of the paper mount section 2 is increased, and the paper P can be smoothly fed by a paper feed means 3.