A method and an arrangement for continuous tension stretching of thin metal strips. The strip is conducted through a set of brake rollers and a set of pull rollers and the strip is subjected to a stretch-forming or stretch pull operation between the two sets of rollers for stretching the strip in the plastic range, wherein the stretch pull force corresponds to the yield point of the strip material. The strip is subjected between the set of brake rollers and the set of pull rollers only to a stretch-pull which is required for stretching the strip in the plastic range. As a result, transverse elongation during plastic stretching is minimized, so that center troughs no longer occur and, when the strip is longitudinally divided, the strip portions no longer have unequal side lengths.