An aligning device for fuel elements allows fuel elements of a pressurized water reactor to be aligned in a comparatively easy and quick manner. To this end, the aligning device for fuel elements includes an aligning body, which extends in a longitudinal direction and whose lateral faces formed from side metal sheets can be displaced out of a position of rest in a direction that is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. The cross-sectional dimensions of the lateral faces of the aligning body in the position of rest are selected so that they are less than the corresponding cross-sectional dimension of a reference fuel element by a predetermined nominal value.