How to Fold Shirts In 5 Different Ways (2023)

by Masterspace Editor June 08, 2020

No matter how big your wardrobe is, its easy for it to get cluttered and messy. One of the biggest culprits for this is improper folding techniques and a poor usage of space. A wardrobe is supposed to be functional and make storage easier – but for those who aren’t storage experts, the opposite is often true.

Keeping your wardrobe tidy and organised is about a thousand times harder than it seems. You will have a few mornings where you don’t know what to wear, or when you forget where you put the shirt you want to wear. Simply put, things can start to get messy very quickly.

Learning how to fold a shirt properly is a good way to save space and make your wardrobe more organised. When summer’s around, t-shirts, tank tops, or dress shirts will be the essential items in your seasonal wardrobe. Read and study the following methods to become more organised and even a space-saving master.

Basic Folding Method – How to Fold a Shirt Easily

This is a simple and easy method that everyone should know.

1. Lay the t-shirt out flat, face down, with the top of the shirt facing towards you.
2. Fold the shirt in half from left to right.
3. Fold the sleeves in towards the middle.
4. Fold the shirt in half from bottom to top.
5. You can either stop here or fold it in half again to take up even less room.

While this is one of the easiest ways to fold a shirt, it is also not the most space-saving one. This is a great place to start, and if you have enough space, can be the best method. But if you’re really tight on space, try the next method.

ROLLING METHOD – HOW TO FOLD A SHIRT FOR TRAVEL WITHOUT WRINKLES AND SAVE MORE SPACE

This method is popular in the military and is commonly known as the army roll. Learning how to fold a shirt this way is great for saving space and maximising storage, but it also greatly helps reduce the amount of creasing and wrinkling you get in your clothes. For those of us who don’t have enough time to iron your shirts because you’re in a hurry for work, school or dates, and of course, when travelling, this method is perfect. Here’s how you do it:

1. Lay the shirt out flat, face up.
2. Fold the bottom of the shirt up 3-4 inches.
3. Smooth out the fabric to minimise wrinkles, and then fold the shirt into thirds.
4. Start on the left side, folding it over the centre. Then take the left sleeve and fold it back over the centre.
5. You will now do the same with the right side.
6. Bring it over before folding the right sleeve back to the centre.
7. Now you can start rolling. Start at the collar end, and make sure you keep the roll nice and tight.
8. Once you get to the end, you will undo the fold you created at the bottom of the shirt and tuck it over each end of the roll to keep it in place.

Even though this method of folding a shirt is great for saving space, many people simply want the quickest and simplest method out there. If you’re one of those people, think about learning how to fold a shirt (the lazy way).

LAZY METHOD – HOW TO FOLD A SHIRT QUICKLY

This method creates a great-looking fold, and it is so fast that it’s practically a magic trick. Once again, lay the shirt out flat, smoothing it out with your hands to remove any wrinkles, if possible. Imagine that there are two lines on the shirts: one that goes across the middle of the shirt, and another that goes from top to bottom, between the collar and the left sleeve. The next part takes a little bit of practise to get right – but once you know how to do it, you’ll never forget.

1. Divide the shirt into three parts: points A, B, and C. The meeting point is going to be point A. The top of the shirt is going to be point B. The bottom of the shirt is point C.
2. Stand on the right side of the shirt and pinch point A with your left hand.
3. Make sure to grab both the top and bottom layer of clothes. Pinch point B with your right hand, and then bring point B down to point C.
4. You will now uncross your arms and lay the shirt face down on the table. Use the table to fold the shirt until you have an even amount of fabric on each side of the shirt.
5. Use the table to fold the shirt onto itself.

If you don’t use a wardrobe to store all your shirts, the next method can help you save time, stay organised, and reduce the amount of unused space.

FILING METHOD - HOW TO FOLD A LONG SLEEVE SHIRT, TEE, OR TANK TOP INTO A DRAWER OR BASKET

With this method, you will be able to file your folded shirts and tank tops into the drawer or basket like you are filing. You will be able to classify your shirts clearly with the front design and logo visible. You can also easily classify shirts and tank tops by colour.

1. Start with the front of the t-shirt facing down, so that it ends up with the design facing upright.
2. Fold it into thirds, bringing the sides (e.g., sleeves) in.
3. Fold another side.
4. Then, fold it in half, bringing the bottom side up.
5. Bring it over to the front side. You can decide whether or not to add the last fold.
6. Create one last fold (bottom side up again)!

T-shirts are the easiest type of shirt to fold. When you start adding buttons, long sleeves or collars into the equation, folds become more complicated and space saving becomes even more important. Read on to discover how we like to fold dress shirts.

HOW TO FOLD A DRESS SHIRT PROPERLY

This is a legitimate question for anyone travelling for business trips, funerals or any other formal event. There’s no way you will be able to bring an iron or steamer with you as you travel, and the hotel probably won’t provide one. Furthermore, it is almost unavoidable to have to fold your dress shirt in order to fit it into your luggage. Here’s how to fold a dress shirt for travel and avoid creasing.

1. Lay the shirt face down. Make sure it’s buttoned up, and ensure a tight, wrinkle-free fold. Fold one sleeve to the middle.
2. Fold another side of the sleeve to the middle.
3. Fold both sides of the shirt towards the centre
4. Fold from the bottom two times so that it becomes tightly folded. The collar will stay in shape.

An additional tip for people who need to travel with dress shirts is to buy those certified to be “wrinkle-free”. Getting shirts designed for travel will simply make your life easier and reduce the number of wrinkles that being tucked away in a suitcase creates. Also, you can bring along a spray called wrinkle releaser spray on your trip. Spray the shirt before you wear it and leave it for 15-20 minutes to dry. The spray will also refresh the clothing!

Feel like you know more about how to fold t-shirts, long sleeve shirts and dress shirts for travel? Master Space is all about packing efficiently and saving space as you travel. Get in touch with us today for more tips and tricks.