A method for regulating the speed of a clamping and lifting device (1) with at least one guide cylinder (2). A hydraulic fluid can flow in and out through in each case one opening in at least two cylinder chambers of the at least one guide cylinder (2) via at least one pump device and via at least one valve device per cylinder chamber for lifting and lowering loads (16). The degree of opening of the valve of the at least one valve device in each case can be changed as a function of the working direction of the device (1), a setpoint speed (10) and the current speed (11) of the at least one guide cylinder (2).