A method for detecting the position of stacked flat material wherein at least one light beam is directed onto a side of a pile of the flat material, is reflected therefrom and is evaluated as a measure of the position, includes directing the at least one light beam not only onto the side of the flat material pile, but also onto a region above a top edge of the pile, and utilizing regions with reflection and without reflection from the pile side for determining the position of the top edge of the pile; and a device for performing the foregoing method.