How to Fold Towels

Written by: Hannah Gardine

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Time to read 2 min

How to Fold Towels

Have you ever noticed the way hotels, spas, and even B&Bs fold their towels? Does it feel like they know a little secret you’re not in on? Keep reading for towel-folding ideas and instructions to help save space and give your bathroom a polished, spa-like feel.

folded towels

Our Favorite Ways to Fold Towels

While there are endless ways you could fold your towels, here are some of our top towel-folding ideas by towel type:

Dishtowels & Hand Towels can be folded in just four easy steps. Folding these types of towels into thirds fits them nicely in a drawer for storage and also allows them to be placed quickly and easily on a towel bar or towel ring.


  • Lay the dishtowel or hand towel out on a flat surface.
  • Fold the bottom of the dishtowel up about halfway.
  • Fold the top of the towel down to cover the bottom.
  • Fold the towel in half.

You can also roll up dishtowels and hand towels from bottom to top after Step 4, so they store nicely in a basket or on a shelf.


Bath Towels & Bath Sheets can be folded in a variety of ways. Our favorite way is like a hand towel (in thirds), with an extra fold or two at the end.



  • Lay the bath towel out on a flat surface.
  • Fold the bottom of the towel up about halfway.
  • Fold the top of the towel down to cover the bottom.
  • Fold the towel into thirds (or quarters for a bath sheet).

If you want your bath towel or bath sheet folded like a spa or hotel towel, rolled just right, tightly and neatly, you can get that same look and feel at home by following these instructions from marthastewart.com:


  • Lay the towel out on a flat surface longways.
  • Fold one corner down to make a triangle (just at the top).
  • Fold the towel in half lengthwise, starting at the midpoint of the triangle.
  • Flip the towel over and roll it from the rectangle end to the triangle end. Keep it tight and make sure the edges line up as you go.
  • Finally, tuck the small point inside the edge of the roll.

Rolled spa towels stack nicely in a pyramid and store well in a basket.

Washcloths have two primary folds to make storage easy and to style them with other already-folded towels. For storage purposes, washcloths can simply be folded in half and then in half again and stacked on top of each other. Alternatively, you can fold them following the instructions below to place them on top of folded bath towels or hand towels for a more polished look.


  • Lay the washcloth out on a flat surface.
  • Fold one corner across to meet the other corner at the top left. This should make a triangle.
  • Fold the now bottom left corner halfway across the triangle.
  • Take the other corner and fold it across, just over the first corner, so it meets the edge of the washcloth.
  • Flip it over and place it on top of a hand towel or bath towel. Folded washcloths can also be stored in a basket with toiletries for a welcoming bathroom environment.

With just a few simple folding techniques, you can keep your towels neat, organized, and even add a touch of luxury to your home.