A method and device for calendering of a paper or an equivalent web material, in which the web material to be calendered is passed through nips formed by a variable-crown upper roll, a variable-crown lower roll, and by two or more intermediate rolls arranged between the upper and lower rolls. The upper roll, lower roll, and intermediate rolls are arranged as a substantially vertical stack of rolls. As the intermediate rolls, rolls are used in which the form of the natural deflection line produced by their own gravity is substantially equal. The nip load produced by the masses of the intermediate rolls and the auxiliary equipment related to the intermediate rolls is substantially relieved, and almost even completely relieved. An adjustable load is applied to the calendering nips by the variable-crown upper roll or lower roll and/or by an external load applied to the upper or lower roll.