In a method and a device for position detection of a material web (2), the position of the material web (2) is determined on the basis of a marking (13) provided thereon. This marking (13) is detected by a first sensor (4), which emits a position signal (33) proportional to the position of the marking (13). The material web (2) is furthermore detected by a second sensor (5), which emits a signal proportional to the velocity of the material web (2) transversely to the movement direction (8). An output signal (7), which represents position-proportional values of the material web (2) even when the position signal (33) fails, is then calculated from the velocity signal (54) and the position signal (33).