Several methods for folding towels will give you better results.

Choose the method that fits your storage space and your towels will look neat and wrinkle-free.

Allow as much of the surface of the towel to be exposed to airflow as possible.

White and tan towels folded in bathroom next to houseplant and wicker basket with rolled gray towels

The Spruce / Nelly Cuanalo

Too many layers of wet towels lying on each other is an invitation for musty, foul-smelling towels.

Before You Begin

Sort Your Towels

Not all bath towels are the same size.

If you want a really good-looking arrangement, also sort by color.

Cream, tan and gray towels sorted by size

The Spruce / Nelly Cuanalo

This is the perfect time to weed out towels that are worn, ripped, or no longer absorbent.

Most animal rescue groups will welcome a towel donation for their shelters.

You now have a long, three-layer strip of towel.

Storage area for towels being measured with yellow measuring tape

The Spruce / Nelly Cuanalo

Make a crease down the length of the towel.

There are now two long parallel folds with edges that meet in the center of the towel.

Fold in Half

Fold the towel in half lengthwise so the raw edges are in the center.

Cream towel laid flat with one third folded

The Spruce / Nelly Cuanalo

There are now four layers of towel in a long, skinny shape.

Fold Each End

Fold each narrow end of the towel toward the center of the strip.

Bring the Halves Together

Do a final fold to bring the two halves of the towel together.

Cream towel folded as a three-layer strip long ways

The Spruce / Nelly Cuanalo

This will give you a neat towel package with no raw edges showing.

Working from the narrow end of the towel, fold the towel in half down its length.

Make a crease and be sure that all of the corners are aligned.

Cream towel as long strip folded in half

The Spruce / Nelly Cuanalo

Align Corners

Fold the towel in half at the mid-point of the rectangle.

Align all four corners of the fabric.

Store with the edges down on the shelf.

Cream towel folded as small square bundle

The Spruce / Nelly Cuanalo

This will place the edges of the towel in the center of the roll.

Store with the folded edges facing up in a basket or out in a cubby.

Tucking the end of a towel helps them stay folded.

Large cream towel laid flat on marbles surface

The Spruce / Nelly Cuanalo

Lay your towel on a flat surface.

Fold one corner towards the center to create a point on one end.

Fold the towel lengthwise and begin to tightly roll the towel from the non-pointed end.

Cream towel folded longwise to the center and held by corners

The Spruce / Nelly Cuanalo

Once you finish rolling, tuck the pointed end into the rolled portion of the towel.

Folding a towel correctly typically requires hiding the seams from view and creating a soft fold on the towel.

When you stack multiple towels, they will look pretty and uniform in thelinen closetor on a shelf.

Opposite end of cream towel folded to center creating long parallel folds

The Spruce / Nelly Cuanalo

Spasand hotels are known for rolling and tucking their towels for that fancy, luxurious look.

Display rolled and tucked towels standing up or laying down in a basket or in awall-mounted rack.

Or lay them down in the shape of a pyramid on a tray or shelf.

Cream towel folded into four layers in long skinny shape

The Spruce / Nelly Cuanalo

Pocketed towels are folded so one end tucks into the other end to form the pocket.

Begin by folding a towel in half short end to short end.

Fold it in half again side to side.

Cream towel in long skinny shape folded inwards with both ends to center

The Spruce / Nelly Cuanalo

Two halves of towel folded on top of each other to create a small towel package

The Spruce / Nelly Cuanalo

Cream towel folded in half long ways

The Spruce / Nelly Cuanalo

Cream towel folded from center of rectangle shape

The Spruce / Nelly Cuanalo

Cream towel folded into thirds to make narrow packet

The Spruce / Nelly Cuanalo

Towel rolled from long rectangle shape for storing

The Spruce / Nelly Cuanalo