Process for the preparation of acrylic and methacrylic acid esters by transesterification of (meth)acrylic acid esters of the formula I: where R1 is H or CH3 and R2 is an alkyl radical having 1 to 40 carbon atoms, with alkanols which have four or more esterifiable hydroxyl groups, characterized in that 0.01 to 10% by weight, based on the total reaction mixture, of lithium amide catalysts are used as transesterification catalyst.