A polishing apparatus has a plurality of polishing units. Moving mechanisms for moving top rings between polishing positions on polishing surfaces and wafer receiving/delivering positions are provided in each of the polishing units. Linear transporters are provided for transferring a wafer between a plurality of transferring positions including the wafer receiving/delivering positions. Pushers for receiving and delivering the wafer between the linear transporters and the top rings are provided at the transferring positions as the wafer receiving/delivering positions.