How to Fold a Long-Sleeve Shirt Four Ways

If your closet or bedroom dresser looks like it could use a little bit of help, learning how to fold clothing in a way that saves space and protects it is essential. Long-sleeve shirts probably make up the bulk of your tops and folding and storing them the right way will ensure they're always visible and easily accessible, which will make getting ready in the morning so much faster — and that's always a good thing,

As with most re-organizing projects, begin by emptying the contents of your closet and drawers and clean both thoroughly. Purge any items that you no longer need and sort items into categories. Once you get to the long-sleeve shirts category, our folding methods will provide you with tips and tricks that'll instantly transform your closet. Let's get folding!

Fold It Vertically

1. Place Shirt Front Down

   Take the shirt and place it on a flat surface with the front side facing down. Smooth out any wrinkles or creases and make sure it's nice and flat.

2. Fold in Half Lengthwise

   Fold the shirt in half lengthwise (vertically), ensuring that the sleeves and top and bottom of the shirt line up.

3. Fold Sleeves Over

   Grab the two sleeves and fold them over the shirt. The sleeve cuffs will probably extend past the body of the shirt and if that's the case, fold them over.

4. Fold in Quarters

   Starting at the bottom and working towards the collar, fold the shirt three times, flattening out any creases as you go.

Fold It Into a Rectangle

1. Lay Shirt Front Down

   Lay the long-sleeve shirt down on a flat surface such as a table or a bed with the front side facing down and smooth it out.

2. Fold Sleeves Diagonally

   Take the right sleeve and fold it diagonally towards the bottom left corner of the shirt. Then, take the left sleeve and fold it diagonally towards the bottom right corner of the shirt, so the two sleeves form a "V" shape.

3. Fold in Thirds

   Grab the bottom of the shirt and fold it halfway up, then fold it again to line up with the collar. Flip it over and adjust the collar and flatten out any creases that may have formed while you were folding.

Roll It

1. Lay Shirt Flat

   Place your shirt on a flat surface face down and straighten it out.

2. Fold Sleeves to Center

   Take the right side and sleeve and bring it over to the center of the shirt, then do the same with the left side and sleeve.

3. Roll Down Evenly

   Starting with the collar end of the shirt, begin to roll it like a jelly roll, making sure you're rolling evenly and tightly enough so it doesn't unroll but not so tight that the material stretches. Keep rolling until you are a couple inches away from the bottom of the shirt.

4. Tuck in the Bottom

   Take the rolled part of the shirt and gently tuck it inside the bottom part — it'll essentially form a pocket that will secure the rolled shirt. This way, it won't unroll and make a mess in your drawer and you can easily grab it and put it in your suitcase if you're traveling.

Fold It Into a Brick Shape

1. Lay the Shirt Flat

   Lay the long-sleeve shirt down on a flat surface face side down and smooth out any creases or wrinkles.

2. Fold in Half Lengthwise, Fold the Sleeves

   Fold the shirt in half longways (vertically) so that the sleeves overlap. Fold the sleeves over the body of the shirt and if they extend past the body, fold them over.

3. Fold Bottom to Top

   Starting at the bottom of the shirt, make a six-inch fold. Then, continue folding until you reach the collar, adjusting the folded shirt so you have a rectangular brick shape.

Folding Tips and Tricks

To ensure every shirt is folded identically for a neat and uniform look, consider purchasing a folding board. It provides a template for folding and helps you do it quickly and easily.

If you want to use a folding board, you can also go the DIY route and make one yourself by cutting a square or rectangular shape out of cardboard and wrapping the edges with tape to help you get a clean fold.

When possible, fold clothes as soon as they come out of the dryer as they're easier to fold and won't have any wrinkles in them.