How to Fold a Dress Shirt

Whether you’re packing for a trip, storing your clothes for the season or just trying to clear out some closet space, folding a dress shirt properly is essential to prevent wrinkles and to keep your shirts in good condition.

We’ve all seen those perfect, neatly folded dress shirts on display in the store and marveled at the difference between those crisp folds and the bunched-up mess we find in our suitcase after a flight. But don’t fear, with the right technique, and a little practice, you’ll have professional-level folding skills in no time. Follow this guide for tips and step-by-step instructions on folding and storing long sleeve and short sleeve dress shirts.

Folding a long sleeve dress shirt can be tricky. Our step-by-step guide will show you how fold any long sleeve shirt and store it without creases and wrinkles.

• Step 1: Make sure the shirt is buttoned all the way up and any cuff or collar buttons are fastened. This helps the shirt keep its shape and ensures a neat fold.
• Step 2: Gently shake out any wrinkles in the shirt and lay it on a clean, flat surface with the buttons facing down. Spread the sleeves out wide and smooth away any wrinkles.
• Step 3: Fold one side of the shirt so that about 1/3 of the front of the shirt is folded over the back. Keep the sleeve extended in line with the other sleeve.
• Step 4: Fold the sleeve in half over itself. Keep folding the sleeve in half until it’s not sticking out on either side.
• Step 5: Repeat steps 3 & 4 with the other side. The shirt should be a long rectangle at this point.
• Step 6: Pinch the shirttail and shoulder and pull gently to remove any wrinkles.
• Step 7: If your shirt has a shorter shirttail, simply fold the shirt in half, bringing the bottom hem up to meet the shoulder of the shirt, just below the collar. If your shirt has a longer shirttail, fold the shirttail up over the back of the shirt a bit past the first button, between ¼ and 1/3 of the way up the back of the shirt. Now, fold the shirt in half again, bringing the bottom of the fold you just made up to meet the shoulders of the shirt, just under the collar. Your shirt should be a nice, neat square with the collar on top.

There you go, your dress shirt is ready for packing or storage.

If you are folding a shirt that is made from a particularly fine fabric and less structured than a usual dress shirt, simply start with the buttons facing up, rather than facing down, and instead of making the final fold (step 6), roll the shirt up from the bottom to just below the collar, like a towel. This roll method is also a great way to save space if your storage is limited.

Folding a short sleeve shirt isn’t much different than a long sleeve shirt, there’s just less sleeve to worry about. Use this method on dress shirts, polos or any other type of short sleeve shirt.

• Step 1: Repeat steps 1 & 2 from the long sleeve guide.
• Step 2: Fold the sleeves inwards along the seam.
• Step 3: Fold in the sides of the shirt, so that about ¼ to 1/3 of the front of the shirt is folded over the back on each side. The shirt should be a long rectangle at this point.
• Step 4: Pinch the shirttail and shoulder and pull gently to remove any wrinkles.
• Step 5: Fold the shirt in half horizontally, bringing the bottom hem of the shirt up to the collar. Again, your shirt should be a nice, neat square with the collar on top.

The roll method mentioned above also works great with short sleeve shirts, particularly polos, t-shirts and other knit shirts that won’t wrinkle as easily.

Question: How to fold a dress shirt without wrinkles?
Answer: No matter how neatly you pack and fold a dress shirt, placing it in a suitcase or drawer will inevitably create creases.

For travel-ready wrinkle-free style, check out our signature non-iron shirts. Designed and crafted specifically to resist wrinkles, our non-iron shirts maintain their shape and appearance for hours, no ironing needed. If they crease up a bit when folded, just toss them in the dryer on low for about 10 minutes.

That said, if you want to guarantee a perfect, wrinkle-free dress shirt we recommend you keep an iron or steamer handy in a pinch.

Question: How to fold a polo shirt?
Answer: To keep your polo shirts looking crisp, you will want to fold them properly. Depending on what sleeve length your polo shirt is, we have the steps down on how to fold your long sleeve polo shirt or short sleeve polo shirt.

Our polo shirts are made from a finely knit fabric that makes them naturally resistant to holding wrinkles. Shop our men’s polo shirts.

Question: How to fold a collared shirt?
Answer: There are many different types of dress shirt collars but the folding method is exactly the same regardless of the collar you choose.

At Paul Fredrick we offer a wide range of collars for all occasions, including all-purpose button-down collars, band collars, point collars, spread collars & tab collars.

Question: How to pack a dress shirt for travel?
Answer: Follow our step-by-step guide for easy tips on neatly folding a dress shirt for travel. If you’re pressed for space, try the roll method mentioned above.

If you’re traveling, our non-iron shirts are ready to wear after just a quick toss in the dryer. We also offer a wrinkle-resistant travel blazer, travel cases, face masks and passport wallets to help you travel in style.

Question: How to fold a shirt fast?
Answer: It may take you a few tries to get it down, but once you’ve mastered our folding method, you’ll have your shirts neatly packed away in no time.

Although it’s not necessarily suitable for dress shirts or long sleeve shirts, the 2-second fold is probably the fastest way to fold a t-shirt, polo, or other short sleeve shirt.

To do the 2-second fold, start by laying your shirt out flat.

Imagine 2 lines on the shirt, a horizontal line across the middle of the shirt and a vertical line halfway between the right shoulder seam and the collar.

With one hand, pinch the shirt at the point where these lines intersect.

With the other hand, pinch the top of the shirt on the vertical line and fold around the first hand to the point at the bottom of the shirt on the same line.

Lift the shirt up and lay it back down, folding the left sleeve under the shirt as you do so.