The device (10) according to the invention for counting and detecting flat products (14) comprises a light source (16) having an illumination beam profile (24), an optical sensor (18) having a detection beam profile (30) and an evaluation unit (20) connected to the optical sensor (18). The detection beam profile (30) overlaps the illumination beam profile (24) in a detection region in which a section (33) of a surface profile of the flat products (14) is illuminated, the section being at least partially delimited by the illumination beam profile (24). A detection signal generated by the optical sensor (18) is fed to the evaluation unit (20), which determines therefrom the number of flat products located in the detection region.