The invention relates to a method for forming palletizable layers (22, 28) of adjacent articles (16), multipacks (17) or the like at a layer-forming location using at least one program-controlled manipulator (20) for picking up one or more articles (16) or multipacks (17) at, and / or transferring them to, at least two spatially remote and / or spatially offset feeding stations and for positioning the articles (16) or multipacks (17), by rotation and / or displacement in predeterminable release positions at the layer-forming location, wherein, in dependence on a current supply situation of the articles (16) or multipacks (17) at the at least two feeding stations, the at least one manipulator (20) picks up the articles (16) or multipacks (17) selectively and without any fixed sequence, at the feeding stations and transfers them, with flexible adaptation of the respective transfer path, to the release position. The invention also relates to a corresponding apparatus for forming planar layers (22, 28) of articles (16) using a layer-forming location and at least one manipulator (20). The feeding stations are assigned sensor devices (52) which are intended for detecting the degree to which the feeding stations are occupied by conveyed articles (16) and which are coupled to a control device (54) for activating the at least one manipulator (20).