In a compensating shaft for reciprocating piston engines with at least one compensating weight (22) connected torsionally elastically to the compensating shaft (21), effective noise reduction is achieved by using an elastic element, preferably one (25) made of plastic of elasticity which is graduated in the circumferential direction, the hard central part (26) having a connection (15) to the compensating shaft (11) which is firm in the circumferential direction, and the soft part (31) bearing against the compensating weight (22).