How to Fold a Fitted Sheet

LifestyleEasy4:167 steps

Based on a video by Martha Stewart.

Folding a fitted sheet is the laundry task everyone gives up on. The elastic edges fight you. There's no flat side to start from. And the instructions you find online usually make it sound like you need three hands.

Martha Stewart's housekeeping expert Hosana demonstrates a method that actually works on Martha's show. The video is a comedy bit, which makes it funny to watch but also means the camera doesn't always hold on the technique - so the steps below break the method down in more detail than the video does.

The whole trick is nesting one corner inside another until all four corners are stacked on your left hand. Once they are, the sheet folds into a neat rectangle almost on its own. It takes a few tries to get the corner-nesting motion right. Stick with it.

Step-by-Step Guide

Set Up the Sheet Inside-Out With Two Adjacent Corners

1:08

Hold the fitted sheet by two adjacent corners, one in each hand. The sheet should be inside-out so the elastic edges face you. The two corners you're holding are on the same short end of the sheet.

The whole technique is about nesting corners inside each other so they stack up cleanly. Getting this starting position right matters more than it seems - if the sheet is right-side out, the corners won't nest.

Watch this moment in the video.

Tip

If you're not sure whether the sheet is inside-out, check one of the corners. The elastic should be visible on the outside. If the corner looks smooth with no elastic showing, you're right-side out - flip the whole sheet.

Flip the Right Corner Onto the Left and Nest Them

1:20

Take the corner in your right hand and fold it over onto the corner in your left hand. Don't lay it on top - tuck the right corner inside the left one.

The motion flips the right corner right-side out and nests it inside the left corner. Now you have two corners stacked on your left hand, one tucked inside the other. This is the move that makes the whole technique work.

Watch this moment in the video.

Tip

Your left hand is the anchor for the whole rest of the fold. Don't take it out of the nested corners until all four are stacked. Most failed fits sheets happen because someone lets go to adjust something.

Pull the Seam Straight and Shake to Line Up the Edge

1:45

Grab the folded seam that just formed and pull it out straight with your right hand. Give the sheet a light shake.

This lines up the bottom edge so you're working with a cleaner shape for the remaining corners. Keep your left hand inside the nested corners the whole time. If you pull your hand out to adjust, you'll lose the grip and have to start from Step 1.

Watch this moment in the video.

Tip

If the sheet is bunching rather than laying flat after you shake it, the nested corners aren't fully tucked. Reach in with your right hand and push the inner corner deeper into the outer one.

Find the Third Corner Along the Elastic Edge and Flip It On

2:15

Run your right hand along the elastic edge of the sheet from where you are until you hit the next corner (the third one).

Lift it up to meet your left hand and flip it on top of the two corners you already have nested. This is where it's easiest to get twisted. Take your time.

If you feel the sheet twisting under your hand, pause and straighten it before you commit the flip.

Watch this moment in the video.

Tip

The elastic edge is your guide. Follow it like a railroad track. If you lose contact with the elastic, you're probably wandering into the flat middle of the sheet, and you'll end up on the wrong edge.

Nest the Fourth Corner on Top

2:55

Find the final corner the same way: run your right hand along the elastic edge until you hit it. Pick it up and flip it on top of the others.

All four corners should now be nested on your left hand, one tucked inside the next, with the elastic edges facing outward. If one corner sticks out at a weird angle, reach in and straighten it so all four sit flush against each other.

Watch this moment in the video.

Tip

Once all four corners are stacked, the bundle starts to feel like a small square lump. That's normal. It means the nesting worked.

Lay Flat and Tuck the Elastic Edges Into a Rectangle

3:20

Lay the bundle flat on a surface (a bed or counter works). You should see a rough rectangle with two straight sides (the seams) and two curved elastic sides.

Tuck the curved elastic edges inward so the sheet forms a clean rectangle. This is the step that separates a tidy folded sheet from a blob.

If the rectangle is lopsided, it usually means one corner isn't fully nested. Flip the sheet and straighten that corner before folding.

Watch this moment in the video.

Tip

A flat surface makes this step easier by a factor of ten. Trying to tuck elastic edges while holding the sheet up against your body is how you end up with a wrinkled blob.

Fold Into Thirds and Stack

3:45

Fold the rectangle in half lengthwise, then fold it into thirds like you'd fold a letter. You'll end up with a neat rectangle that stacks on a shelf.

If your linen closet is deep rather than wide, fold into thirds in both directions instead for a taller, squarer bundle.

Store with the elastic side down so the fold doesn't open up when you pull other sheets out.

Watch this moment in the video.

Tip

Store your sheet set together by tucking the folded flat sheet and pillowcases inside the folded fitted sheet. One tidy bundle, easy to grab, no mismatched sets floating around.

Products used in this step

Linen Closet OrganizerView product

Products Used

Linen Closet OrganizerView

Your Guide

Martha Stewart

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