The invention relates to a sintering furnace (1) for components (15) made of a sintered material, in particular for dental components, comprising a furnace chamber (2) having a chamber volume (VK), wherein a heating device (5), a receiving space (9) having a gross volume (VB) located in the chamber volume (VK) and delimited by the heating device (5), and a useful region (10) having a useful volume (VN) located in the gross volume (VB), are disposed in the furnace chamber (2). The furnace chamber (2) has an outer wall (3) consisting of a plurality of walls having a wall portion (7) to be opened for introduction of a component to be sintered having an object volume (VO) into the receiving space (9). In the furnace chamber (2) the heating device (5) has a thermal radiator (6) having a radiation field (13) which is disposed on at least one side of the receiving space (9). At least the useful volume (NV) disposed in the receiving space (9) is disposed in the radiation field (13) of the radiator (6), wherein the maximum possible distance (d) of the component (15) to be sintered from the radiator (6) corresponds to at most twice the dimension (Dy) of the maximum useful volume (VN).