This invention relates to a clamping element for workpieces, in particular a vice (10, 33, 40), comprising a first clamping jaw (12, 34, 41) and a second clamping jaw (13, 35, 42), which are mounted on a carriage bed (11). To avoid bending moments as a result of tensile forces acting on the carriage bed (11), the clamping element of the invention is characterized in that the resultants of the forces introduced by the clamping jaws (12, 13, 34, 35, 41, 42) into the carriage bed (11) as a result of the clamping forces acting on the clamping jaws (12, 13, 34, 35, 41, 42) are located in the plane of the neutral fiber (32) of the carriage bed (11). Preferably, the clamping jaws (12, 13, 41, 42) constitute two-armed levers, a clamping surface (21, 24) being associated to the one lever arm and a push rod (27, 46) engaging the other lever arm.