A method for arranging magnets of a rotor or stator of an electrical machine is provided. In this method a number of performance parameters of the electrical machine are identified. A plurality of neighboring magnets are assigned to a magnet group. The magnet group includes a reference magnet and at least one further magnet. Further, a number of distinct magnet arrangement variables for the magnet group are identified, such that the number of arrangement variables is equal to the number of performance parameters. A value of an arrangement variable is calculated according to a desired adjustment of a performance parameter. Based on the calculated arrangement variable, an arrangement is determined for one of the at least one further magnet of the magnet group relative to the reference magnet of that magnet group.