A handheld instrument for X-ray fluorescence analysis, including - a housing and a handle, - an X-ray fluorescence measuring device disposed within the housing and comprising a radiation source by which a primary beam is directed through an exit window onto a measuring surface of an object of measurement, - a detector arranged within a housing which detects the secondary radiation emitted by the measuring surface of the object of measurement, - a data processing device disposed within the housing which activates at least one display device provided on said housing or connected therewith - the exit window being provided at a frontal end of a first housing portion of the housing and at least one positioning element, which is associated with this exit window, being provided on the first housing portion and the handle being provided on the first housing portion, - the first housing portion and the handle being pistol-shaped, and - at least one support element being provided on at least one further housing portion of the housing, which is spaced apart from the exit window on the first housing portion, - one positioning element and two support elements or two positioning elements and one support element forming a three-point support, - the positioning element adjacent to, or adjoining, the exit window being realised as a support surface and the support elements disposed on the further housing portion being realised as touchdown feet or touchdown prisms, - the handheld instrument being realised in such a manner that, due to the at least one positioning element and to the at least one support element, it is aligned with the measuring surface of the object of measurement upon touchdown on said measuring surface and is automatically positioned in a measuring position with respect to the measuring surface, thus assuming a defined measuring position on the object of measurement due to the shape of the handheld measuring instrument itself and without any additional, separate aids, characterised in that the at least one further housing portion is connected to the first housing portion. - a housing and a handle, - an X-ray fluorescence measuring device disposed within the housing and comprising a radiation source by which a primary beam is directed through an exit window onto a measuring surface of an object of measurement, - a detector arranged within a housing which detects the secondary radiation emitted by the measuring surface of the object of measurement, - a data processing device disposed within the housing which activates at least one display device provided on said housing or connected therewith - the exit window being provided at a frontal end of a first housing portion of the housing and at least one positioning element, which is associated with this exit window, being provided on the first housing portion and the handle being provided on the first housing portion, - the first housing portion and the handle being pistol-shaped, and - at least one support element being provided on at least one further housing portion of the housing, which is spaced apart from the exit window on the first housing portion, - one positioning element and two support elements or two positioning elements and one support element forming a three-point support, - the positioning element adjacent to, or adjoining, the exit window being realised as a support surface and the support elements disposed on the further housing portion being realised as touchdown feet or touchdown prisms, - the handheld instrument being realised in such a manner that, due to the at least one positioning element and to the at least one support element, it is aligned with the measuring surface of the object of measurement upon touchdown on said measuring surface and is automatically positioned in a measuring position with respect to the measuring surface, thus assuming a defined measuring position on the object of measurement due to the shape of the handheld measuring instrument itself and without any additional, separate aids, characterised in that the at least one further housing portion is connected to the first housing portion.