How to Fold Underwear: Underwear Organization Methods

If you have a drawer that is stuffed to the brim with panties, but you can never seem to find the perfect pair, then it’s time to learn how to properly fold your underwear. Home organization is a recent trend where experts show their methods of organizing their closets, drawers and personal belongings. Organization gurus like Marie Kondo and the ladies from The Home Edit have given Instagram-worthy inspiration and advice on how to keep your closet in tip-top shape.

To help you learn how to fold underwear and maximize your drawers, we’ve sourced 8  different expert methods for folding every type of underwear. Before jumping in, let’s discuss the importance of learning how to properly store your drawers. 

The Importance of Learning How to Fold Underwear

There are many advantages to learning how to fold your underwear. Folding underwear can be very therapeutic as taking the time to organize and fold each piece slows down your day and encourages mindfulness. Also, folding each article into a small square or roll, helps you save space and keep track of how often to buy new underwear. Folding your underwear also saves time as it prevents you from spending hours digging for that specific underwear needed for an outfit and helps make packing a breeze. 

What is the best way to fold underwear? You can decide for yourself as you explore the different expert methods for underwear organization. For step-by-step instructions on folding underwear, watch our video below!

Let’s begin by discussing the best ways to fold panties. 

How to Fold Panties 

Learning how to fold panties is no easy feat, especially if you aren’t skilled with folding small pieces of fabric. Try one of our simple underwear folding methods and for extra organization, purchase a panty organizer to keep folded panties lined up and in place in your drawer. Before each step, make sure to flatten the fabric so that there are no wrinkles or puckers. 

1. The Square Method 

The square method is one of the simplest ways to fold your underwear and works best with thongs, briefs or cheeky underwear. In the visual above we demonstrate this folding method by using our Women's Cool Cotton Thong. Follow the directions below to get started.

1. Lay underwear on a flat surface with the front facing up.
2. Pull the crotch area up to meet the top of the waistband.
3. Fold the right side into the center. Take the left side and fold that over the right side. 
4. The result should resemble a rectangle.
5. Fold the rectangle to make a square shape.

2. The Egg Roll Method 

The next method is called the egg roll method because the result resembles a Chinese egg roll. It is great for packing as your underwear will stay in place and can be stored in small places. This method also works great for briefs or cheeky underwear.

1. Lay underwear horizontally face up with the waistband towards you.
2. Fold three times in narrow equal folds, moving away from you. 
3. When you have about an inch of fabric left, stop folding and flip the underwear over.
4. Fold each side towards the center.
5. Fold the bottom up. 
6. Place your thumbs in the pocket made and flip inside out. 

3. The Roll Method 

The next method is the roll method and is also one of the ways Marie Kondo instructs her clients to fold their underwear. This method is best for briefs or cheeky underwear. In the visual above we demonstrate this folding method by using our Women's Second Skin Brief.

1. Lay underwear vertically and on a flat surface with the front of the underwear facing up.
2. Pull the crotch area up to meet the top of the underwear’s waistband.
3. Take the left side and fold it in half vertically.
4. Roll the fabric away from you and into a tight cylinder.

4. The KonMari Fold

The KonMari fold is another underwear folding method from Marie Kondo. This folding method works best for briefs.

1. Lay underwear on a flat surface with the front facing up.
2. Fold one side across the middle to make a rectangle.
3. Fold the other side the same way.
4. Fold the bottom part up in half or thirds until it meets the top of the waistband. 
5. The result should be able to stand up on its own and can be stacked vertically. 

5. The Boyshort Method 

The next method is called the boyshort method because it works best for boyshort style underwear. In the visual above we demonstrate this folding method by using our Women's Second Skin Boyshort.

1. Lay underwear on a flat surface with the front of the underwear facing up.
2. Take the top of the panties (waistband area) and turn it 90 degrees laying it flat down. The seam should be facing you and the leg holes should be stacked on top of each other. We do this to ensure the extra crotch fabric lays flat.
3. Take the bottom of the underwear and fold it to meet the top of the underwear (waistband).
4. Take the left side and fold it inwards 3 times. 
5. The result should resemble a small square. 

How to Fold Boxers + Briefs 

Learning how to fold men’s underwear comes with different challenges. Men’s underwear like boxers and briefs have extra fabric that can get in the way of a seamless fold so remember to flatten the fabric before getting started. Explore our methods for simplifying the process and learning how to fold boxers below. 

6. The Big Square Method

Our first method for folding men’s underwear is the big square. This method is best for boxers and trunks. In the visual above we demonstrate this folding method by using our Second Skin Boxer Brief 8”.

1. Lay the underwear face up with the waistband positioned away from you.
2. Pull the left leg or side and fold it towards the middle. It should line up with the middle of the underwear. Fold the right side inwards so it is covering the left folded section. It should make a rectangle shape. 
3. Tuck in any extra fabric or flared sides from the crotch, then take the crotch side of the underwear and fold it thirds until it reaches the top of the waistband. 
4. The result should resemble a big square.

7. The Tucked Square

Our last underwear folding method is called the tucked square. This works best for boxers, trunks and other underwear with a strong elastic waistband.

1. Lay the underwear down face up with the waistband positioned away from you.
2. Fold the left leg or side and fold it towards the middle. It should line up with the middle of the underwear.
3. Fold the right side inwards so it is covering the left folded section. It should make a rectangle shape. 
4. Fold the waistband side of the underwear halfway down.
5. Hold the bottom section of the underwear in one hand, while holding the waistband open with the other hand, and tuck the bottom part into the waistband.
6. You should be left with a small tucked square that’s easy to store. 

8. The Army Roll

The next method is called the army roll because of the way you tuck in and roll up the fabric. Similar to the egg roll, it is great for packing as your underwear will stay in place and can be stored in small places. This method also works best for boxers and trunks. In the visual above we demonstrate this folding method by using our Cool Cotton Trunk 4".

1. Lay the underwear face up with the waistband positioned away from you.
2. Flip the waistband and pull it down about two inches so that you can see the inner fabric. 
3. Take the left side and fold it towards the middle to line up with the middle of the waistband. Take the right side of the underwear and fold it over the left side.
4. Pull the bottom of the underwear (leg openings or crotch) and roll it up toward the waistband keeping it as tight as possible. 
5. Hold the rolled part of your underwear with one index finger tucked under each end of the waistband, and your thumbs on the other side of the fabric. Push the waistband up and towards you with your index fingers, while pushing the rest of the fabric down with your thumbs. You should be left with a rolled underwear that won’t come apart. 

We hope our guide has helped you learn how to fold underwear. From thongs to boxers, there are many different types of underwear and ways to fold them properly. If through this process, you find that you’ve outgrown some of your old pairs, use our underwear size chart to find your perfect fit.