A method and device for the contactless detection of flat objects, particularly in sheet form, such as paper, films, foils, plates, labels, splices, break points, tear-off threads and similar flat materials or packs. A sensor device, such as a receiver-following evaluating device, is supplied with at least one correction characteristic, by means of which a measuring signal input voltage characteristic in the receiver is simulated as a function of the gram weight or weight per unit area of the flat objects as a target characteristic in such a way that there is obtained a linear or almost linear dependence or a characteristic approximated to the ideal single sheet detection characteristic in the form of a target characteristic.