The invention relates to a protective device (33) for a hand machine tool, particularly for a sanding hand machine tool, comprising a protective guard (40). Said protective guard is provided for at least partially enclosing a rotating tool in a radial direction. The protective device is also equipped with a guiding means for guiding the protective guard (40) along a workpiece (30) and with a fixing device for fixing the protective guard (40) to the hand machine tool. According to the invention, the guiding means is connected to the protective guard (40) in a rotationally fixed manner, and theprotective guard (40) is mounted in a manner that enables it to move in relation to the fixing device.