Method for determining a lateral and/or angular offset between two tandem-arranged shafts (1, 2), axles, rollers or the like, at least one measuring pointer rigidly fitted relative to one of the shafts, axles or rollers, and at least two measuring pick-ups or reference elements (A, A') assigned to the measuring pointer or pointers and rigidly fitted on a respectively different shaft, axle or roller being used in a plurality of measuring angular positions corresponding to one another in each case from shaft to shaft to generate two mutually independent measuring signals (S x, S y, S' y, S' y) which correspond in each case to a component, referred to the relevant measuring angular position, of the shortest spacing which the center axes of the shafts possibly exhibit from one another, and to an angular component at which the center axes are offset askew, or from which signals said components can be derived, a) the shafts (1, 2) being turned into at least four different, freely selectable measuring angular positions in which measurements are taken, and b) in each angular position measuring signals (S x, S y, S' x, S' y) affected by measurement uncertainties being picked up and recorded, the measuring signals being provided as measured-value triplets (Φ, y, y') and one measured-value triplet (Φ, y, y') respectively comprising: the measured angular value (Φ) of a measuring angular position, a measured value (y) generated by a first measuring pick-up or reference element, and a measured value (y') generated by a second measuring pick-up or reference element, characterized in that c) a calculating device is used to carry out a three-dimensional fitting calculation or adaptation in which the characteristic values are calculated in accordance with a prescribed fitting principle for an elliptical, periodically continuing helical curve, or its approximation by other functions, the measured-value triplets being represented via the acquired angle of rotation and generating the helical curve in such a way and d) the characteristic values of the elliptical helical curve, taking account of at least one of the known angular positions and the direction of rotation of the shafts (1, 2) during rotation into the measuring angular positions, are used by means of the calculating device to determine the spatial position of the shafts, axles or rollers relative to one another and, if appropriate, correction values for their positional correction for the purpose of eliminating an alignment error which may have been established. a) the shafts (1, 2) being turned into at least four different, freely selectable measuring angular positions in which measurements are taken, and b) in each angular position measuring signals (S x, S y, S' x, S' y) affected by measurement uncertainties being picked up and recorded, the measuring signals being provided as measured-value triplets (Φ, y, y') and one measured-value triplet (Φ, y, y') respectively comprising: the measured angular value (Φ) of a measuring angular position, a measured value (y) generated by a first measuring pick-up or reference element, and a measured value (y') generated by a second measuring pick-up or reference element, characterized in that c) a calculating device is used to carry out a three-dimensional fitting calculation or adaptation in which the characteristic values are calculated in accordance with a prescribed fitting principle for an elliptical, periodically continuing helical curve, or its approximation by other functions, the measured-value triplets being represented via the acquired angle of rotation and generating the helical curve in such a way and d) the characteristic values of the elliptical helical curve, taking account of at least one of the known angular positions and the direction of rotation of the shafts (1, 2) during rotation into the measuring angular positions, are used by means of the calculating device to determine the spatial position of the shafts, axles or rollers relative to one another and, if appropriate, correction values for their positional correction for the purpose of eliminating an alignment error which may have been established.