Method for bending a sheet, wherein a) at least one sheet (1, 2) is inserted into a pre-bending ring (7a) with a movable bending ring holder (3), the sheet (1, 2) is heated at least to approximately softening temperature, and the sheet (1, 2) is pre-bent in the pre-bending ring (7a) to 5% to 50% of the final edge bending, b) the pre-bent sheet (1, 2) is lifted out of the pre-bending ring (7a) by means of a suction device (5) and is bent further, beyond the bending obtained in the pre-bending ring (7a), wherein, during the bending, on a curved contact surface (12) of a counter structure (8) of the suction device (5), there is a minimum distance (15) of 3 mm to 50 mm between the sheet (1) and an air baffle (11) of a covering (9) of the suction device (5) that surrounds the counter structure (8), c) the sheet (1) is laid down by means of the suction device (5) in a final-bending ring (7b) on the movable bending ring holder (3) and the sheet (1, 2) is bent to the final bending, and d) the sheet (1, 2) is cooled down in the final-bending ring (7b) and the sheet (1) is bent by means of the suction device (5) to 100% to 130% of the overall final edge bending.