How to Fold an American Flag

Open the flag fully and hold it horizontally between you and your partner. Stars on the left, stripes on the right, bottom edge parallel to the floor. Keep it pulled tight so it stays flat the whole way through.

If the flag has been on a pole, take a second to shake out any wrinkles before you start. A flat starting position makes every fold after this easier.

Bring the bottom striped edge up to meet the top edge. The flag is now folded in half lengthwise and looks like a long banner of red and white stripes, with the blue field hidden underneath.

Match the corners carefully. A clean lengthwise fold sets up every triangle that follows, so it's worth taking a beat to line things up.

Fold the flag lengthwise a second time. The folded edge moves up to the top, and the blue field of stars rotates to the outside. You should now have a long, narrow strip with stars on one end and stripes on the other.

This is the shape you'll keep for the rest of the folds. Every triangle from here builds off this strip.

Now the triangle work begins. Whoever is holding the striped end takes the bottom corner and folds it up at a 45-degree angle so the bottom edge meets the top edge. You'll have a clean right triangle of stripes.

Press the fold flat with your palm. Sharp corners on every fold make the difference between a tight finished triangle and a sloppy one.

Take the outer point of the triangle you just made and fold it straight across the strip toward your partner. The triangle shape stays the same; it just slides down the flag.

Keep the bottom edge of each new triangle parallel to the long edge of the strip. That alignment is what keeps the final shape clean.

Repeat the triangle move all the way along the strip. Each fold is a 45-degree corner-to-edge motion that walks the triangle closer to the stars.

The traditional sequence has 13 folds total, one for each original colony. Don't worry about counting; just keep folding triangles tight against each other until you run out of strip.

When only the blue field remains, you'll have a small open flap of star-spangled fabric left over. Tuck that flap inside the pocket the previous folds have created.

Slide it in so the edge disappears completely. This is what locks the triangle and keeps it from unfolding when you set it down.

You're done. Hold the triangle in both hands. Only the blue field with white stars should show on both faces, with no red or white stripes peeking out anywhere.

From here you can store the flag in a triangular display case, hand it to a family member, or set it on a shelf with the points facing up. A flag folded this way can sit for years without unraveling.