The invention relates to a method and apparatus for adjusting the width of the bending jaws in a bending machine. The total width (L) of the bending jaws is formed by using jaw parts and edge pieces in the following manner:a first set (R.sub.1) is elected to form a group of jaw parts of different widths for so-called fine adjustment, one at a time (R.sub.1n) being at the operational point (T) of the bending jaws, a second set (R.sub.2) is elected to form a group of jaw parts with identical width and to be separate from the edge pieces (RK.sub.1, RK.sub.2) for so-called coarse adjustment, wherein the width of the bending jaws required at a time is elected according to the equation L=R.sub.1n +N * R.sub.2i +C, wherein L=the width of the bending jaws, R.sub.1n =the width of the jaw part (n=0 . . . M) elected from the first set (R.sub.1), N=the width of the jaw parts of the second set (R.sub.2), i.e. a constant, R.sub.2i =the number (i=0 . . . k) of jaw parts of the second set (R.sub.2) at the operational point (T) of the bending jaws, and C=a constant, comprising the parts with a constant width included in the total width of the bending jaws, i.e. preferably at least the total width (C.sub.R) of the edge pieces (RK.sub.1, RK.sub.2) and the total width (C.sub.L) of the locking parts (LO) between the first and second sets.