A process for the production of diesters of aliphatic and aromatic dicarboxylic acids or their anhydrides and alcohols of three to fifteen carbon atoms while recycling the alcohol used in excess and in the absence of an esterification catalyst at a temperature of from 150* to 250*C in which the reaction mixture, after water of esterification has been removed, has aqueous alkali added to the point of neutralization to separate the monoester from the diester, the aqueous solution of the monoester salt thus separated is acidified with sulfuric acid to recover the monoester, the diester is washed with water to remove residues of alkali and the diester which has been washed until neutral is treated with steam, wherein there is added to the aqueous solution of the monoester salt prior to, during or after acidification a weight of the alcohol serving for the production of the ester which is from one-half to once the weight of the monoester salt, washing of the diester is carried out in two stages, the water of esterification and the aqueous condensate obtained in the final steam treatment are used together or separately for washing the diester and the waste water obtained in the diester washing is used completely for the production of the aqueous alkali.