In a process for the preparation of alkylaromatic compounds by reacting C3-30-olefins, or alcohols from which C3-30-olefins are formed under the reaction conditions, with an aromatic hydrocarbon in the presence of an alkylation catalyst, the reaction is carried out in a reactor cascade of at least two reactors, where each of the reactors comprises the alkylation catalyst, at least 80% of the aromatic hydrocarbon are fed into the first reactor of the reactor cascade, and at least 40% of the olefins are intermediately fed in after the first reactor.