A grate (1) for furnaces comprises grate bars (5, 6, 8, 9) and grate rods (4, 7) engaging in receptacles (3) of grate bars (5, 6, 8, 9), by which grate bars (5, 6, 8, 9) can be moved back and forth in the direction of their longitudinal extent. Adjacent grate bars (5, 6, 8, 9) are moved relative to each other during the back-and-forth movement in order to clean the air gaps between grate bars (5, 6, 8, 9). The direction of the relative movement between adjacent grate bars (5, 6, 8, 9) is essentially horizontal, parallel to the longitudinal extent of the grate bars (5, 6) and / or essentially perpendicular, transverse to the longitudinal extent of the grate bars (8, 9).