A method for manufacturing a three-dimensional object by a layer-by-layer application and selective solidification of a building material in powder form in a device. The method includes applying a powder layer of the building material to a build area on an application surface of the device by a recoater moving in a movement direction across the application surface, selectively solidifying the applied powder layer at positions corresponding to a cross-section of the object to be manufactured, and repeating the steps of applying and selectively solidifying until the object is completed. A height of the applied powder layer is varied at least across a section of the powder layer along the movement direction of the recoater.