How to roll clothes for packing

Is it better to roll or fold clothes when packing?

For soft clothes, rolling usually wins. A roll has no sharp fold lines, only gentle curves, so knits and casual cottons come out with softer wrinkles that drop out after an hour on a hanger. Rolling also squeezes air out of the fabric, and AAA's carry on advice puts the principle simply: air is the enemy of an efficient bag. Rolls fill odd spaces in a way flat stacks cannot, and they stay put in a half empty case.

Structured clothes are different. Blazers, suit jackets, crisp dress shirts and anything with a pressed crease look worse rolled, because the curve distorts shoulders, collars and interfacing. Those travel better folded flat or packed in a garment folder, as described in our guides on folding a suit for travel and folding a dress shirt. Most good suitcases end up with both: rolls at the bottom and a flat layer of structured pieces on top. Remember that rolling saves space, not weight, so an overweight bag stays overweight.

How to roll clothes for packing: the basic roll

This is the everyday method for T shirts, polos, thin sweaters, leggings and pajamas. It starts with a clean rectangle, so the roll is even from end to end.

1. 01

   Lay it face down and smooth it

   Spread the shirt front side down on a bed or table and smooth out every wrinkle with your palms. Any wrinkle you roll in will still be there when you unpack.

2. 02

   Fold the sides in

   Fold each side in toward the center so the sleeves lie along the body and the shirt becomes a long rectangle about the width of your packing cube. You should see straight, parallel edges.

3. 03

   Roll tightly from the collar

   Starting at the collar, roll down toward the hem, keeping the roll firm and pressing out air as you go. Tight rolls hold their shape and wrinkle less than loose ones, which shift and crumple in transit.

4. 04

   Check the finish

   The result should be a smooth cylinder with no bulges and the hem wrapped around the outside. If it springs open, it was rolled too loosely or the rectangle was uneven; unroll and try again.

The ranger roll for a tighter pack

The ranger roll, sometimes called the army roll, locks each roll into a small, firm bundle that will not unravel. AAA's packing advice suggests it when you need to compress items further. It works best on T shirts, underwear and socks, and less well on thick sweaters.

5. 05

   Make a cuff at the hem

   Lay the shirt face down and fold the bottom 3 inches (about 8 cm) outward, turning that band inside out. This band becomes the pocket that holds the roll closed.

6. 06

   Fold the sides into a narrow panel

   Fold the sleeves and sides toward the center in thirds so the shirt is a narrow rectangle, keeping the cuff flat at the bottom.

7. 07

   Roll down toward the cuff

   Roll tightly from the collar toward the hem, stopping when you reach the inside out band.

8. 08

   Pull the cuff over the roll

   Turn the band back over the roll like a sock over a foot. The roll is now enclosed and should stay closed even if you toss it into the bag.

How to roll pants, jeans and dresses

For jeans and casual pants, lay them flat, fold one leg exactly on top of the other, and fold the seat point in so the waist is square. Then roll firmly from the waistband down to the hem, or from the hem up if you want the thicker waist at the center. Jeans make a heavy, firm roll that belongs at the bottom of the case. Our guide on folding jeans shows the flat version if you prefer it.

Dress trousers can be rolled, but gently. Fold them along the crease so the lines stay where they belong, lay a soft T shirt or a sweater on top, and roll the two together loosely. The inner garment acts as a core, so the trousers bend around a gentle curve rather than a sharp fold. Knit dresses roll beautifully: fold them lengthwise into a panel as wide as your cube and roll from the neckline. Woven dresses in cotton or silk do better rolled around a soft layer the same way, and linen will wrinkle whatever you do, so pack it with a plan to steam or accept its creases.

How to pack the rolls in a suitcase or packing cubes

Stand rolls upright on end in a packing cube or across the suitcase, like files in a drawer, rather than stacking them. You can then see every piece at a glance and pull one out without unpacking the rest. AAA suggests clear or mesh cubes, with separate cubes for underwear, casual clothes and nicer outfits, and one set aside for laundry on longer trips. Put the heaviest rolls, such as jeans, at the wheel end so the bag stands well.

Fill gaps as you go. Socks and small rolls tuck into shoes, where they also help the shoes keep their shape. Put flat structured items and folded shirts on top, where nothing presses on them. For more on layering the whole bag, see our guide on packing a suitcase.

Rolling clothes for packing with fewer wrinkles

Rolling reduces wrinkles but does not eliminate them, and a few habits make a real difference. Pack clothes clean and completely dry, since damp fabric sets every crease. Smooth each piece flat before rolling. Keep rolls tight and the bag full enough that they cannot shift. And favor fabrics that resist wrinkles or look fine a little rumpled, which Rick Steves recommends for any traveler trying to pack light: knits, wool, and blends with some polyester or elastane forgive a suitcase better than crisp cotton or linen.

When you arrive, unpack straight away and hang anything that matters. Most soft wrinkles fall out overnight, and a steamy bathroom helps with the rest. Our guides to steaming clothes and getting wrinkles out without an iron cover quick fixes in a hotel room.