Method for drying sheets which are guided in tiers through a device which is split into drying chambers, in which the sheets are brought into contact with the drying air in a main drying stage 20 and a final drying stage 21 by means of impingement jet aeration and wherein the impingement jet aeration is ensured by means of cross aerated nozzle boxes, wherein a) the exhaust air of the main drying stage 20 is added to a pressure chamber 5 of one drying chamber, or of a plurality of drying chambers 43, in the first half of the final drying stage 21 for heating of the final drying stage 21 and b) a portion of the mixing air thus obtained is used during circulating air mode for drying in the drying chamber 43 and c) a further portion of the mixing air is introduced into the suction chamber 9 of the subsequent drying chamber in each case and d) the exhaust air overall travels through the final drying stage 21 in this way, e) the exhaust air from one drying chamber, or from a plurality of drying chambers 43, in the second half of the final drying stage 21 is discharged at a lower temperature level, wherein in the main drying stage 20 f) the circulating air is heated to 150 to 350°C, g) the circulating air, after contact with the sheets, is cooled to 120 to 300°C, h) the circulating air has a humidity of 150 g/kg to 850 g/kg, i) a portion of the circulating air is extracted chamber-wise, collected and fed as exhaust air to the final drying stage 21, and in the final drying stage 21 j) the exhaust air is fed to the main drying stage 20 at a temperature of 150°C to 250°C and with a humidity of 200 to 800 g/kg, k) the exhaust air of the final drying stage 21 is discharged at a temperature of 80°C to 130°C and with a humidity of 250 to 850 kg/kg, and l) the drying capacity of the final drying stage 21 is 10% to 30% of the drying capacity of the main drying stage 20. a) the exhaust air of the main drying stage 20 is added to a pressure chamber 5 of one drying chamber, or of a plurality of drying chambers 43, in the first half of the final drying stage 21 for heating of the final drying stage 21 and b) a portion of the mixing air thus obtained is used during circulating air mode for drying in the drying chamber 43 and c) a further portion of the mixing air is introduced into the suction chamber 9 of the subsequent drying chamber in each case and d) the exhaust air overall travels through the final drying stage 21 in this way, e) the exhaust air from one drying chamber, or from a plurality of drying chambers 43, in the second half of the final drying stage 21 is discharged at a lower temperature level, wherein in the main drying stage 20 f) the circulating air is heated to 150 to 350°C, g) the circulating air, after contact with the sheets, is cooled to 120 to 300°C, h) the circulating air has a humidity of 150 g/kg to 850 g/kg, i) a portion of the circulating air is extracted chamber-wise, collected and fed as exhaust air to the final drying stage 21, and in the final drying stage 21 j) the exhaust air is fed to the main drying stage 20 at a temperature of 150°C to 250°C and with a humidity of 200 to 800 g/kg, k) the exhaust air of the final drying stage 21 is discharged at a temperature of 80°C to 130°C and with a humidity of 250 to 850 kg/kg, and l) the drying capacity of the final drying stage 21 is 10% to 30% of the drying capacity of the main drying stage 20.