The object of the invention is a method and apparatus for drying sludges, in which the sludge (6) is first of all poured into a mass filter (1) on top of a filter material (2). Here it is permitted to precipitate as a stiff sludge, which is collected for further drying. Before the sludge (6) is poured, a fabric (7), with a water penetrability on the De Voorst scale of more than 80 1/m<2> s, most advantageously more than 200 l/m<2> s, is spread on top of the filter material (2). The precipitated sludge is lifted off the filter (1) by means of a bag (12) formed from this fabric (7), the precipitate formed on the inner surface of which acts later as a filter when the bag has been separated from the filter material (2).