How to Fold Shorts: Drawer, Shelf and Travel Methods

Different shorts fold differently. Thin, soft fabrics fold small and roll easily, while thick denim and pocket-heavy cargos need wider, flatter folds.

Here’s which fold suits each type.

When in doubt, fold thick shorts flat and roll thin ones. That rule covers almost every pair.

The basic fold works for most shorts and takes about ten seconds. It makes a neat rectangle you can stack, file or pack.

Start on a flat surface like a bed or table. A smooth surface makes neater folds than folding in the air.

Folding in thirds makes a narrower bundle that files better in a drawer. Folding in half makes a flatter one that stacks better on a shelf.

File folding stands each folded pair upright, like files in a cabinet. You can see every pair at once and pull one out without unstacking the rest.

It also fits more into a drawer than flat stacks. Upright bundles fill the drawer’s height instead of wasting space on top.

The same upright file-fold is also the neatest way to fold pants in a deep drawer.

Put the pairs you wear most at the front of the drawer. It saves digging, and the back rows stay neat for longer.

Shelves work better with flat stacks than upright files. A wide, flat fold makes a stable pile that doesn’t lean.

Fold each pair in half rather than thirds, so they’re wider and sit flat. Nike’s folding guide suggests alternating the waistband direction in a stack so it stays steady.

Keep heavy denim at the bottom and lighter shorts on top. That stops the stack from squashing the thin pairs and keeps it from toppling.

Building Stacks Too Tall:

A tower of 12 or more pairs leans, and pulling one from the middle collapses it. Split them into two shorter stacks instead.

Denim and cargo shorts are thick, and their bulk sits at the waistband and pockets. Folding them like thin shorts creates a lumpy bundle that won’t stack.

For jean shorts, fold them in half along the centre seam with the back pockets facing out, then fold once, hem to waist. Don’t fold in thirds, because thick denim fights the extra fold.

For cargo shorts, empty the pockets and flatten the side pockets before folding. Fold with the cargo pockets facing inward so the bundle stays flat.

Athletic shorts are thin, slippery and light. They fold small, but they also unfold easily if the bundle is loose.

For mesh gym and basketball shorts, do the basic fold, then fold in thirds and tuck the edge of the waistband over the bundle to hold it closed. For running shorts with a built-in liner, fold the liner flat inside first so it doesn’t bunch.

Compression and cycling shorts are stretchy, so rolling is better than folding. Roll them gently from the hem to the waist, without stretching the waistband.

Skip It If the Shorts Are Still Damp

Folding sweaty or damp gym shorts traps moisture and leads to smells. Hang them to dry fully before folding.

Rolling is the most popular way to pack shorts, but it isn’t always the most space-efficient. In a Which? packing test, folding fitted the most clothes across four bags, while rolling came second but “creased clothing less than other methods.”

Travellers on the Rick Steves travel forum are split. One member said rolling meant “you can fit more in and things don’t get wrinkled,” while another said, “I tried rolling, it didn’t seem to save me any space.”

In a hard-sided suitcase, a mix often works best: flat-fold thick shorts at the bottom and tuck rolled thin pairs into the gaps.

Rolling Shorts So They Stay Rolled

A tight roll with the waistband turned over stays closed in a bag.

Fold thick denim flat and roll thin shorts. Mixing both methods often uses suitcase space best.

Boxer and pajama shorts are soft and floppy, so they collapse if the fold is too loose. A small, firm square keeps them neat.

Fold them in half side to side, tuck in the crotch, then fold in half twice from the hem up. The result is a small square that files upright in a drawer.

Store boxers and pajama shorts in a separate drawer or divider from other shorts. Soft fabrics hold their shape better when they aren’t squashed under heavier pairs.

Most folding problems come from overfilling drawers and folding while shorts are still wrinkled. A few habits keep everything tidy for longer.

Don’t cram a drawer to the top. Leave a little space so you can lift bundles out without dragging the others.