Abstract: A toner which combines excellent cleaning ability, image quality and durability, as well as a developer and an image forming method using the toner are provided. A toner comprising a toner base particle which comprises at least a binding resin and a colorant, and an external additive, wherein an external additive is a non-spherical amorphous silica particle and a major axis of the silica particle is 40 nm to 180 nm. An aspect wherein the non-spherical amorphous silica particle has a true specific gravity of 1.8 to 2.3 and the silica particle is hydrophobilized and a hydrophobilization degree is 40 or more, and an aspect wherein the non-spherical amorphous silica particle is produced by a dry system and a mass reduction rate is 5% by mass or less when the silica particle is heated from 30° C. up to 250° C. are preferable.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a toner that can sustain favorable transferability and cleaning ability for prolonged periods; prevent photoconductor filming; exhibit no variation in image nonuniformity or external additive immersion induced by developer agitation at the time of use; excels in stability with flowability and charge stability over prolonged periods. Therefore, provided is the toner of which the quantity of aggregate of residual external additives found on the sieve of 635-mesh and 452 cm2 of mesh area, after 0.2 g of the toner on the sieve is blasted with air at a blow pressure of 0.2 MPa from 160 mm above the sieve while being air-suctioned at a suction force of 5 mmHg, and then air-suctioned at a suction force of 20 mmHg, is 4,500 or less and 5 or more.