The invention provides a process for preparing aqueous polymer dispersions having a high solids content of more than 60% by polymerizing one or more ethylenically unsaturated monomers by means of free-radically initiated aqueous emulsion polymerization in the presence of from 0.1 to 5.0% by weight of emulsifier, based on the overall weight of the monomers, and in the presence of initiator, wherein the emulsifier in an amount of from 0.001 to 0.5% by weight, based on the overall weight of the water in the initial charge, is included in the initial charge together with a fraction of from 1 to 10% by weight of the monomers, based on the overall weight of the monomers, before the beginning of polymerization, and the remainder of emulsifier and the remainder of monomers are metered in after the beginning of polymerization.