A tert-C₄-C₈-alkyl (meth)acrylate is prepared by reacting (meth)acrylic acid with an olefin of the formula ##STR1##

where

• R¹ and R², which may be identical or different, are methyl or ethyl and R³ is H, methyl or ethyl, in homogeneous phase in the presence of an acidic catalyst and isolating the tert-C₄-C₈-alkyl (meth)acrylate from the reaction mixture, by a process in which the catalyst is separated off as residue by a two-stage distillation of the reaction mixture and the tert-C₄-C₈-alkyl (meth)acrylate is isolated from the distillates.

The novel process makes it possible to use acetic acid-containing (meth)acrylic acid. The danger of cleavage of the ester and of polymerization of (meth)acrylic compounds is reduced.