The present invention relates to a process for preparing a terephthalic diester by reacting terephthalic acid with at least one alcohol, wherein terephthalic acid is suspended in the alcohol in a dispersing tank, the preliminary suspension is passed from the dispersing tank into a reactor and converted in the presence of an esterification catalyst, and water of reaction is distilled off together with the vapor as alcohol-water azeotrope, the vapor is at least partly condensed, the condensate is separated into an aqueous phase and an organic phase, the organic phase is dewatered and the dewatered organic phase is passed at least partly into the dispersing tank.