Process for the continuous preparation of alkyl acetates by reaction of acetic acid with C3- to C5-alkanols in the presence of acidic catalysts, in which an acetic acid content of 5 to 12 mol per mole of alkanol is maintained in the starting mixture of acetic acid and the alcohol, which mixture is added to the esterification vessel in which the esterification is carried out at temperatures of 50 to 100@C.
