A device (1) for the cross-winding of wire on spools in general comprising a spindle (2) for supporting a spool (5) which has a pair of mutually opposite long sides joined by a pair of mutually opposite short sides, the device further comprising a clamp (20) which can be arranged on the axis of the spool (5) and is provided with a pair of mutually opposite claws (21), which engage the spool (5) for positioning, on the long side of the spool, a wire fed by a wire guide (70), means (35) being also provided for the translational motion of the clamp (20) along the axis of the spool (5) and means for the translational motion of the pair of claws (21) along a direction that is substantially perpendicular to the axis, the device further comprising means (11, 50) for the synchronous rotation of the spindle (2) and of the clamp (20).