Method for calibrating a user input apparatus for a motor vehicle, wherein - the user input apparatus - has a component having a touch-sensitive surface and a reference element mechanically connected to the component; - has a circuit carrier and a distance sensor, which is arranged on the circuit carrier and is configured to generate a sensor signal depending on a distance of the reference element from the distance sensor; and - has an evaluation unit, which is configured to detect an actuation of the user input apparatus when the touch-sensitive surface is touched by a user and simultaneously an actuating force is exerted on the touch-sensitive surface which is greater than or equal to a specifiable minimal force; characterized in that - in a first calibration step, a first relationship is determined between a change of the actuating force and a change of the sensor signal; - the user input apparatus is installed in the motor vehicle in an installation step after carrying out the first calibration step; - in a second calibration step after carrying out the installation step, a first actual value of the sensor signal is determined and the first relationship is corrected depending on the first actual value; - a first actuating force having a nonzero first force value is exerted on the touch-sensitive surface and a first value of the sensor signal is determined during the exertion of the first actuating force; - in each of a large number of iterations, a second actuating force having a nonzero second force value is exerted on the touch-sensitive surface and a second value of the sensor signal is determined during the exertion of the second actuating force; and - for each of the large number of iterations, the change of the sensor signal is determined as the difference between the first value and the second value of the sensor signal in order to determine the first relationship in the first calibration step. - the user input apparatus - has a component having a touch-sensitive surface and a reference element mechanically connected to the component; - has a circuit carrier and a distance sensor, which is arranged on the circuit carrier and is configured to generate a sensor signal depending on a distance of the reference element from the distance sensor; and - has an evaluation unit, which is configured to detect an actuation of the user input apparatus when the touch-sensitive surface is touched by a user and simultaneously an actuating force is exerted on the touch-sensitive surface which is greater than or equal to a specifiable minimal force; characterized in that - in a first calibration step, a first relationship is determined between a change of the actuating force and a change of the sensor signal; - the user input apparatus is installed in the motor vehicle in an installation step after carrying out the first calibration step; - in a second calibration step after carrying out the installation step, a first actual value of the sensor signal is determined and the first relationship is corrected depending on the first actual value; - a first actuating force having a nonzero first force value is exerted on the touch-sensitive surface and a first value of the sensor signal is determined during the exertion of the first actuating force; - in each of a large number of iterations, a second actuating force having a nonzero second force value is exerted on the touch-sensitive surface and a second value of the sensor signal is determined during the exertion of the second actuating force; and - for each of the large number of iterations, the change of the sensor signal is determined as the difference between the first value and the second value of the sensor signal in order to determine the first relationship in the first calibration step.