The invention relates to a bending machine (1) for metal sheets (3). The bending machine (1) comprises a machine frame (4) and a support device (15) which is designed to hold the metal sheet (3) to be bent, a support surface (16) of the support device (15) being arranged in a horizontal plane with the support surface (7) of a clamping base (5). The support device (15) has at least a first support module (17) and a second support module (18) having a first support surface (19) and a second support surface (20). At least one of the support modules (17, 18) is horizontally displaceable in the longitudinal direction (21) of the bending machine (1) and as a result a first gap (22) extending at right angles to the blank-holder edge (12) can be set between the two support modules (17, 18). The support modules (17, 18) each have at least a first support element (24) and a second support element (24, 25) with a second gap (26) located between the support elements (24, 25), which second gap (26) is oriented parallel to the blank-holder edge (12).