How to Fold T-Shirts Quickly (Plus Other Clothing Items!)

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Plus expert folding hacks from a pro closet organizer

Co-authored by Caitlin Jaymes and Bertha Isabel Crombet, PhD

Last Updated: May 30, 2025 Fact Checked

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Two-Second Shirt Fold

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Classic T-Shirt Fold

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Folding Dress Shirts & Tank Tops

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Additional Pointers

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Video

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Q&A

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Tips

Learning how to fold clothes properly is a necessary part of adulthood. Lucky for us, there are quick and simple methods for folding t-shirts, including the “two-second” fold. While your first time folding will probably take you a lot longer than two seconds, you'll appreciate this fold once you've got the hang of it. Take a couple of minutes to learn this technique , and you'll save time and effort every time you fold your laundry. Plus, we’ve included tutorials on how to quickly fold other clothing items like dress shirts and tank tops , as well as helpful tips from professional closet organizer Caitlin Jaymes.

The Fastest Way to Fold a T-Shirt

Lay the shirt out on a flat surface.
Picture a line running from one shoulder to the bottom of the shirt.
Pinch the midpoint wth your left hand and pinch the top end point with your right.
Use a sweeping triangle motion to help the 2 points meet from the top to the bottom.
Turn the shirt over and lower it over the sleeve.

Section 1 of 4:

How to Fold a Shirt in 2 Seconds

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Spread the T-shirt or other short-sleeved shirt out on a flat surface such as a clean table, with the front of the shirt visible. Stand so that the neck of the shirt is on your right, and the bottom of the shirt is on your left.
2
Imagine a line running from the far shoulder to the bottom of the shirt. Picture a line that crosses the T-shirt. One end is on the shoulder most distant from you, between the neck and the sleeve, and the line crosses the shirt in a straight line until it hits the bottom. ^{[1]
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- If you like, you can lay a flat ribbon or other straight, bendable object over the shirt to keep track of where the line is.
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3
Pinch the midpoint of this line with your left hand. Find the point on this imaginary line that divides the shirt into two equal sections: one on your right, which includes the neck and sleeves, and one on your left, which includes the bottom of the shirt. Use your left hand to reach over to this point and pinch the fabric between your finger and thumb tightly. Make sure you are pinching both the front and the back fabric of the shirt.
- Don't worry too much about finding the exact middle of the line, especially before you've got the hang of this. You do not need to measure it exactly to end up with a tidy, folded shirt.
4
Use your right hand to pinch the end of the line at the shoulder. Keep your left hand in place as you do this. The shoulder of the shirt should be to your right, so at this point, your arms should not be crossed. Remember, the line runs in between the sleeves and the neck.
- Again, make sure to pinch both the front and back fabric. Since this is at the end of the shirt, it should be easy to place the shirt between your index finger and thumb.
5
Move your right hand around your left to the bottom of the T-shirt. Keep your first, left-hand pinch in place. Lift your right hand, while still pinching the shoulder, and move it across your left hand until it is at the bottom of the T-shirt. Your arms should now be crossed, with your right arm over your left. ^{[2]
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- Your right hand should move directly over your left in a straight line, and continue to the bottom of the shirt. This motion follows the imaginary line.
Extend your finger and thumb so you can grasp both the shoulder (which you were already pinching) and the fabric at the bottom edge of the T-shirt. Again, make sure you are pinching both the front and back of the shirt. ^{[3]
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7
Uncross your hands and pick up the shirt. Keep a firm grip on both pinches and uncross your hands while simultaneously lifting the shirt off the surface. You must move your left hand through the two folds of the shirt hanging from your right hand during this uncrossing motion. If you uncross your arms simply by rotating the shirt instead, you will end up with a mess. ^{[4]
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- This is the easiest part of the fold to mess up. However, once you've understood the type of motion you need to make, it will be easy and quick, and become muscle memory eventually!
8
Finish the fold by lowering the shirt over the loose sleeve. If everything was done correctly, a folded shirt rectangle should be hanging down from your hands with a loose sleeve dangling at the bottom. Lower the shirt back down onto the table. The loose sleeve should contact the table first. Lay the rest of the shirt over the loose sleeve so it is not visible from the front. ^{[5]
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- If the loose sleeve isn't completely hidden after you lower the shirt, just tuck the sleeve under the shirt by hand.
9
Fold a few more shirts if you want to get faster. You have now completed your first T-shirt fold with this method. If that only took you 2 seconds, congratulations! You're a great folder and a fast reader. Even if it took you several minutes to learn this fold, you're now done with the hardest part. Fold a few more shirts and check your time. Once you're used to this system, you'll be able to fold a pile of short-sleeved shirts more quickly than you thought was possible.
- When it comes to organizing your t-shirts , Jaymes recommends keeping everything in “categories.” She’s an advocate for color-coding, but maintains that drawer dividers also work if you don’t want to color code.
- Jaymes adds that “you want to be able to sit on your couch and think, ‘Okay, I need to pack, and I can tell you exactly where every single thing is in my closet without even having to be in there.”

Section 2 of 4:

How to Do a Classic T-Shirt Fold

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1

Lay the t-shirt flat. Find any flat surface, like a table or bed, and lay the shirt with its back facing towards you. Smooth out the wrinkles and make sure the sleeves are spread. This will ensure that your garment stays nice and neat throughout the folding process.
2

Fold each sleeve inward. Fold both sleeves back so they’re facing the collar, turning the shirt into a rectangle shape. Jaymes recommends that you try this quick, traditional fold for a t-shirt, as it’s both easy and accurately represents what the shirt looks like.
3

Fold the bottom into the top. Now that the shirt is a rectangle, take the bottom half of the shirt and fold it toward the top half, creating a square shape. You may also choose to do a double fold by taking the bottom half of the shirt and folding it once at the midway point, and then folding it again, creating an compact look that doesn’t limit access. ^{[6]
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.

Section 3 of 4:

How to Fold Other Shirt Types

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1
Folding long-sleeve dress shirts Place the shirt on a flat surface with the back of the shirt facing up. This is the first step when folding anything, as it guarantees an even and wrinkle-free fold. Place a notebook beneath the collar. You can also use a notebook, notepad, or cardboard for this step as long as it's a rectangular shape. Placing a notebook or similar item under the collar will help create some structure for the fold. ^{[7]
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- Fold each side of the shirt toward the center. Take the left side of the shirt and fold it inwardly, alongside the paper; do the same with the right side.
- Fold the right side into the left side. Fold both sleeves toward the edge of the shirt while still keeping them inside the fold you’re creating.
- Fold this narrow rectangle shape twice. Fold the bottom of the shirt into the top, and then the longer top section into the bottom fold you just created.
- Remove the notebook. Turn the compact rectangle over and slide out the notebook from its place. Smooth out the wrinkles and voila!
2

Folding tank tops The tank top should be laid out flat with its back facing you. Fold in the excess material along the vertical lines on both sides so that the top transforms into a neat rectangular shape. Bring the bottom half of the rectangle into the top half, creating a square shape. Make sure that the bottom edge aligns with the top. If possible, tuck the top’s straps toward the back for a super tidy and compact look.

Section 4 of 4:

Additional Pointers for Folding Clothes

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1

Create a designated folding space. A large, flat surface is ideal for folding clothes. Options include but are not limited to a bed, table, or desk. Having a designated area for your laundry and folding can help to optimize organization, cleanliness, and efficiency. ^{[8]
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2

Sort your clothes before folding. After a load of laundry, separate your clothes into piles. While it does depend on the types of clothes you’ve washed, you can do one pile for tops and one for bottoms. Fold each pile, allowing you to get into a folding rhythm. ^{[9]
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3

Fold your clothes straight out of the dryer. The heat from the dryer helps to remove wrinkles and keep them at bay, so folding your clothes fresh out of the dryer is a great way to avoid using an iron later. ^{[10]
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Community Q&A

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Why does my shirt always come out as a right triangle?

Community Answer

That's likely because you're not following the directions carefully enough. You might get a friend or family member to read over them with you and help walk you through the steps.

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How do I roll fold T-shirts?

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Fold the T-shirt in half the long way, fold in the sleeves, then you just roll it up!

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What is the best way to store t-shirts in a drawer?

Community Answer

Fold the t-shirts as directed in the article and stack them neatly on top of each other in your drawer.

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The two-second method becomes much faster with practice. Don't expect your first few attempts to be successful in 2 seconds, but 5 seconds should be achievable after just a few shirts.

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If you find that the third pinch "twists" when you uncross your arms, try facing your palm outwards (away from you) when you gather the final pinch.

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The two-second method is also known as the Japanese T-shirt fold.

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I find it is easier to view t-shirts in a drawer (and keep them from getting squashed) by stacking them on their ends and laying them at an angle. It prevents rifling through when in a hurry, too!

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How to Fold T-Shirts Quickly (Plus Other Clothing Items!)

The Fastest Way to Fold a T-Shirt

Steps

How to Fold a Shirt in 2 Seconds

How to Do a Classic T-Shirt Fold

How to Fold Other Shirt Types

Additional Pointers for Folding Clothes

Community Q&A

Video

Tips

Tips from our Readers

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