A sintering furnace for components made of a sintered material, in particular for dental components, having a furnace chamber having a chamber volume (VK). A heating device, a receiving space having a gross volume (VB) located in the chamber volume (VK) and delimited by the heating device, and a useful region having a useful volume (VN) located in the gross volume (VB), are disposed in the furnace chamber. The furnace chamber has an outer wall consisting of walls having a wall portion to be opened for introduction of a component to be sintered having an object volume (VO) into the receiving space. In the furnace chamber the heating device has a thermal radiator having a radiation field which is disposed on at least one side of the receiving space. At least the useful volume (NV) disposed in the receiving space is disposed in the radiation field of the radiator.