Method for compensating the length of a movable handrail (10) in a passenger conveyor (2) having a passenger transportation belt (4) defining at least one passenger transportation surface (8), the handrail (10) is traveling along a closed handrail path which extends through an exposed path (12) along the passenger transportation belt (4), around a turnaround means (14), through a return path (16) and around a further turnaround means (18), and which hand rail path defines a handrail plane which is substantially perpendicular to the passenger transportation surface, the method comprising the following steps: (i) turning the handrail (10) out of the handrail plane; (ii) directing the handrail (10) through a compensation means (38); and (iii) turning the handrail (10) back into the handrail plane.