An adaptive numerical integrator for the exchange-correlation energy and potential is presented. It uses the diagonal elements of the exchange-correlation potential matrix as a grid generating function. The only input parameter is the requested grid tolerance. In combination with a defined cell function the adaptive grid generation scales almost linear with the number of basis functions in a system. With the adaptive numerical integrator the self-consistent field energy error, which is due to the numerical integration of the exchange-correlation energy, converges with increasing adaptive grid size to a reference value. The performance of the adaptive numerical integration is analyzed using molecules with first, second, and third row elements. Especially for transition metal systems the adaptive numerical integrator shows considerably improved performance and reliability. (C) 2004 American Institute of Physics.