Abstract: The invention relates to a method of preparing a C8-C22 alkyl (meth)acrylate by transesterification of C1-C2 alkyl (meth)acrylate with a C8-C22 alkanol, said method comprising the steps of (i) reacting C1-C2 alkyl (meth)acrylate with the C8-C22 alkanol in the presence of a particulate potassium phosphate heterogeneous catalyst and a stabilizer thus releasing C1-C2 alkanol, (ii) continuously distilling off the azeotrope of C1-C2 alkyl (meth)acrylate and the C1-C2 alkanol, wherein steps (i) and (ii) are carried out simultaneously until substantially all of the C8-C22 alkanol has reacted, (iii) distilling off unconverted C1-C2 alkyl (meth)acrylate, (iv) washing the C8-C22 alkyl (meth)acrylate-comprising product mixture obtained in steps (i) through (iii) with an aqueous phase to separate off the catalyst and the stabilizer from the product mixture with the aqueous phase and optionally adding a stabilizer, (v) distilling off water from the product mixture, wherein step (iii) may also be effected after step (iv) a