The party has made significant inroads in western Germany, notably in industrial areas like Duisburg's Marxloh district, where it secured up to 30 per cent in recent European elections despite the area's large immigrant population.
Polls suggest the AfD could overtake Olaf Scholz's Social Democrats to become the country's second-largest party.
The next government will face a US administration increasingly sympathetic to the AfD, after Vice-President JD Vance met their chancellor candidate Alice Weidel.
The AfD's popularity has surged following five deadly attacks since last May, including three during the campaign.
Up to 20 per cent remained undecided on election eve, despite an unprecedented nine televised debates this month.
