How to Fold a Dress Shirt in 5 Steps

Instructions

Getting a properly folded dress shirt is easy; if done correctly, it is done in no time.

Step 1. Place the Dress Shirt on a Flat Surface

Before folding the dress shirt, you must have a flat surface to fold it on, like a table.

• Button the shirt to the top, including the cuff buttons.
• Flatten out any creases and ensure that the collar is neatly in its folded position.
• Flip the dress shirt over so that the buttons and front of the shirt are faced down on the table.
• Plane out any creases again before you start the folding proses.
• Where the collar shows at the back, pull the shirt at the shoulders to ensure that there is no creasing underneath the collar

Step 2. Fold Sleeves Across

Correctly folding the sleeves is important because they will be in the center of the shirt after the folding proses, and if you fold it incorrectly, it will have creases when you unfold it.

• Take the right sleeve and fold the full length of the sleeve across to the left bottom corner of the shirt.
• The cuff must not go past the left of the dress shirt's vertical seam.
• The shoulder line must be vertical with the side seam of the dress shirt.
• Plane the shirt to ensure that there are no creases.
• Take the left sleeve and fold the full length of the sleeve across to the right bottom corner of the shirt.
• The cuff must not go past the right of the dress shirt's vertical seam.
• The shoulder line must be vertical with the side seam of the dress shirt.
• Plane the shirt to ensure that there are no creases.

Step 3. Fold the Bottom Half of the Sleeves Toward the Collar

The bottom half of the sleeves is folded away from the bottom of the shirt to avoid creases.

• Please take the right cuff of the dress shirt and pull it towards the collar.
• The left side of the right cuff must lie vertically with the center of the collar.
• The elbow part of the sleeve must be at a 45" angle and lie vertically along the remaining bottom half of the sleeve.
• Plane out the sleeve to ensure that there are no creases.
• Take the left cuff of the dress shirt and pull it towards the collar.
• The right side of the left cuff must lie vertically with the center of the collar.
• The elbow part of the sleeve must be at a 45" angle and lie vertically along the remaining bottom half of the sleeve.
• Plane out the sleeve to ensure that there are no creases.

Step 4. Fold Dress Sleeve Sides to Meet in the Middle

This step will indicate the width of the dress shirt after the completed folding proses, and the center point of the collar is crucial to get balanced and even fold.

• Take the full length of the right side of the dress shirt with one hand at the bottom and the other at the top.

• Fold the right side of the shirt vertically with the top outer corner in the center of the collar and the bottom corner in the middle of the shirt.
• Plane the folded portion to avoid any creases.

• Take the full length of the left side of the dress shirt with one hand at the bottom and the other at the top.
• Fold the left side of the shirt vertically with the top outer corner in the center of the collar and the bottom corner so that it meets the right folded portion in the middle of the dress shirt.
• Plane the folded portion to avoid any creases.

Step 5. Fold the Bottom of the Dress Shirt Towards the Collar

This step covers two folds, a third of the dress shirt's length, to complete the folding proses. If you have a rolled belt, this will be a good opportunity to place it in the collar to keep it neatly shaped.

• Take the bottom corners of the dress shirt, one with each hand.
• With one hand on each corner, fold the dress shirt towards the collar one third of the way.
• Plane the folded portion to ensure that there are no creases.
• Fold the dress shirt towards the collar again to give you a neatly compact square-shaped dress shirt.
• Tuck the sides of the dress shirt if needed to get straight lines and plane it to get out any creases.
• Flip the dress shirt over to get the collar and buttons faced upward, plane it on last time, and shape the collar if needed.

Tip: Place a rolled belt in the collar to keep it round and unwrinkled.