In a method and apparatus to determine a suitable table position for an examination step in a magnetic resonance (MR) apparatus, the patient table is moved to a first table position and a first measurement volume is selected. Adjustment measurements to adjust components of the MR apparatus to the first measurement volume are implemented and the measurement results are stored. A second measurement volume is selected. The difference between an optimal table position for the second examination step and the first table position is calculated. MR data are acquired from the second measurement volume at the optimal table position for the second examination step if the difference exceeds a defined threshold, and at the first table position with the first adjustment parameters if the difference does not exceed the threshold.
