How to Fold Swimwear: Bikinis, One-Pieces, Trunks

I have been testing what is the best way to fold swimwear for both men and women for over a year now. And I have concluded that generally, a simple fold is best for both swim trunks and two-piece bikinis.

1. Lay the swimwear bottom flat with the top facing up.
2. From the left side, fold the bottom over in half so it lines up with the right side.
3. From the top of the waistband fold in half down to the bottom.
4. For bikini tops, lay it flat with the back facing up.
5. Tuck the shoulder straps inside the cups of the bikini top.
6. Place bikini bottom inside one of the bikinis cups.
7. Fold the empty cup over the cup with the bikini bottom inside.

This works great to keep the shape of the cups while keeping matching bikini sets together.

For men’s swimwear, follow the first 3 steps for a simple fold.

I’ll now go further into detail about what folds work best for specific types of swimwear, and where you can save real space.

I have also added videos and illustrations below so that you can easily follow along. At the bottom of the article, there is also a downloadable folding cheat sheet for all swimwear.

How to Fold Swim Shorts

If you’ve been following my YouTube channel, ‘Small Space Organizing’ then you know that I consider the military roll for swim trunks the hardest fold to perform. But it is also the most space-saving fold for men’s swimwear by far.

1. Turn the waistband inside-out
2. Pull the waistband down 3-5″ over the rest of the shorts.
3. Fron the left side of the shorts, fold shorts over in half
4. From the bottom of the legs, tightly roll the shorts up to the top.
5. Flip the exposed part of the inside-out waistband back over the rest of the roll
6. Make adjustments with your fingers to even out any wrinkles that have appeared

I shared this ranger roll in the shorts folding guide from the previous lesson as well.

As the video below shows, it saves a ton of space when folding swim shorts too.

Just watch the mesh and pockets, which tend to flop out when you create the pocket on top.

I recommend that you practice this fold a few times as it can be tricky in the beginning.

Clever Fold for Men's Swimwear (That Saves Space)

How do you fold board shorts?

Boardshorts can generally be folded three ways.

The simplest way is to fold them in half left-to-right, then again top-to-bottom.

This makes a flat fold.

I prefer to file-fold boardshorts as they are longer than regular swim trunks. Follow the steps described below to file-fold:

1. Lay your boardshorts flat with the front facing up.
2. From the left, fold over in half so the back is now facing up.
3. From the waistband down to the bottom of the shorts fold downwards one third of the way at a time.
4. You now have a file-fold with one fold on one side, and one fold and the bottom of the shorts legs on the other side.
5. Place the shorts vertically with the side with the shorts’ legs downwards to support the shorts.
6. You can place additional file-folded boardshorts next to this one to created more structure for the folded shorts.

This is a quick and easy way to organize your boardshorts that also saves some space over the regular flat fold.

For travel, I recommend the ranger roll instead because it holds the shorts together neatly.

The file-fold is a bit flimsy and unravels easily.

The ranger roll holds together really well, and it’s my personal favorite. I made an entire guide on how to roll clothes for your dresser.

I have added an infographic below on how to ranger roll swim trunks, but it is exactly the same for board shorts, except you don’t have to deal with the mesh inside regular trunks.

Do you wear anything underneath board shorts?

Generally, you don’t have to wear anything underneath board shorts if they have a mesh liner. If they don’t, many chose to wear underwear, a speedo, or compression shorts under their board shorts.

Why Men’s Swim Trunks Have Netting

The main purpose of the netting in swim trunks is to secure your genitals and keep them out of harm’s way during activity.

Generally, you will find mesh liners in all shorts designed for water activities. Interestingly, board shorts seem to be the only men’s swimwear that does not consistently have the mesh liner inside.

As you can imagine, without the mesh liner things move around freely inside the shorts, and you should therefore substitute the liner with a tight pair of underwear or similar underneath.

How to Fold and Store Two-Piece Bikinis

After experimenting way too much with folding a two-piece bikini I have written up a short step-by-step guide for you to fold and store your bikinis.

1. Lay the bikini bottom flat with the thinnest side facing up.
2. From the left side, fold the bikini bottom over in half so it lines up with the right side.
3. From the top, fold it in half down to the bottom.
4. For your bikini top, lay it flat with the back facing up.
5. Tuck the shoulder straps inside the cups of the bikini top.
6. If possible, fold the lower part of the bikini up, over the cups.
7. Place the bikini bottom inside one of the bikinis cups.
8. Fold the empty cup over the cup with the bikini bottom inside.
9. Place the set in a thin cotton bag or a clear, lockable plastic bag.

This is the closest thing we can get to file-folding two-piece bikinis while storing them together. I think it is a great compromise that saves a ton of space, keeps the sets together and organized, while also protecting the cups, and allowing for an easy grab before you head to the beach.

I have also made a video and step-by-step illustration for this folding and storing style for you below in case you are a visual learner.

Clever Ways to Fold Women's Swimwear

I also have a guide on how to fold women’s underwear that will interest you. Feel free to check it out next.

How to Fold a Bathing Suit

After tinkering with one-piece bathing suits for a good while I can confidently say that in general, the best way to fold bathing suits is to file-fold them.

1. Place the bathing suit on a flat surface with the back-side facing up.
2. Put the shoulder straps neatly inside the cups of the bathing suit.
3. From the bottom up, fold the swim suit up in half so it reaches the bottom of the cups.
4. Fold it over from the bottom up so it barely meets the bottom of the cups one more time.
5. Fold the cups over the rest of the fold, and gently push any acces fabric under the cups.
6. Optional: Place bathing suit in a lockable bag for easy storage and access.

To store swimsuits, I recommend a thin cotton bag or a clear plastic bag with a zip.

It makes access and organizing easier and holds the bathing suit fold together nicely.

File-folds tend to unravel when you pull out one of the items beside them.

If you want a visual demonstration of how to perform this fold, I added a video above.

It is the same video as the one for two-piece bikinis.

Skip to 3:34 if you only want to see the bathing-suit fold.

I have also added an illustration below in case you prefer that. You can download all the illustrations from this article at the bottom of the article.

Tap here to check out my guide on how to fold towels.

How to Dry Swimwear Properly

How you dry swimwear matters as much as how you fold it. Wet swimwear folded or stored improperly develops musty odors within 8 to 12 hours, and trapped moisture accelerates elastic breakdown.

The Towel Roll Method

Never wring or twist a swimsuit to remove water. Wringing stretches and damages the elastic fibers permanently. Instead, use the towel roll method:

1. Lay the swimsuit flat on a clean, dry towel.
2. Roll the towel up tightly with the swimsuit inside.
3. Press gently on the rolled towel to absorb excess moisture.
4. Unroll and remove the swimsuit. It should be damp but not dripping.

Flat Drying vs Hanging

Always lay swimwear flat to dry. Hanging a wet swimsuit causes the weight of the water to stretch the fabric at stress points like straps and seams. This is especially damaging to one-piece suits and bikini tops with molded cups.

Dry swimwear in the shade or indoors in a well-ventilated area. Direct sunlight fades colors and breaks down elastic fibers just as fast as a hot dryer. UV exposure degrades spandex and elastane at the molecular level.

Never put swimwear in a machine dryer. The heat damages delicate materials and elasticity, leading to shrinkage, thinning, and permanent loss of shape.

Swimwear Packing Tips for Travel

Folding swimwear for a suitcase requires different priorities than drawer storage. You need compact bundles that stay together and survive being compressed under other clothes.

Use Packing Cubes for Organization

Thin, lightweight packing cubes keep swimwear organized and prevent it from getting squished by heavier items. A dedicated cube for swimwear also makes it easy to find at the bottom of a packed bag.

Roll swimwear using the ranger roll method described above, then place the rolls vertically in the cube. This prevents creases and maximizes space.

Separate Wet Swimwear

Always carry a waterproof pouch or zip bag for wet swimwear. Chlorine and saltwater transfer to dry clothes and cause staining. A dedicated wet bag prevents this and keeps your luggage organized.

Rinse swimsuits with cool, fresh water after swimming before placing them in the wet bag. This removes sand, chlorine, and sunscreen that damage fabric over time. Rinsing within 15 to 30 minutes removes most damaging substances before they bind to fibers.

The Hat Stuffing Trick

If you are packing a hat, stuff folded bikinis or soft swimwear into the crown. This saves space and helps the hat maintain its shape during travel. Just make sure the swimwear is completely dry first.

Why Do Bathing Suits Lose Elasticity?

Bathing suits contain elastane (also called spandex or Lycra), which gives them stretch. Three things degrade elastane over time: chlorine, UV light, and heat.

Chlorine from pools breaks down elastic fibers at the molecular level. Salt water has a similar but slower effect. UV rays from direct sunlight accelerate the process.

Hot water and machine drying also damage elasticity. Washing in water above 30°C (86°F) speeds up fiber breakdown. Machine dryers apply heat that permanently weakens elastane.

To preserve your bathing suits, rinse them with cool fresh water after every pool or ocean dip. Hand wash with a mild detergent in cold water. Never use bleach or fabric softener, as both break down fibers and leave residues that trap bacteria.

Rotate between multiple swimsuits if you swim frequently. Each suit needs at least 24 hours to recover its shape and elasticity between wears. Constant stress from repeated chemical exposure shortens lifespan significantly.

Folding and storing swimwear flat also extends the lifetime of the elastane since it won’t create unnecessary strain. Avoid hanging swimsuits for long-term storage, as gravity stretches the fabric over time.

Pre-Soak Before Swimming

Soak your swimsuit in clean, cool water before entering the pool or ocean. A saturated fabric absorbs less chlorinated or salt water, similar to how a wet sponge cannot absorb much more liquid. This simple step reduces chemical exposure per swim session.

Chlorine-Resistant Fabrics

If you swim regularly in chlorinated pools, look for swimwear made from 100% polyester or labeled as chlorine-resistant. Polyester holds its shape and color much longer than spandex or nylon in chlorinated environments. It lacks the buttery stretch of spandex but lasts significantly longer under heavy use.

Do Swimsuits Shrink When You Wash Them?

Generally, swimsuits don’t shrink when you wash them as most are made of polyester or nylon which does not shrink. If your swimsuit is made of cotton or wool you may be able to shrink them slightly during a wash.

Your biggest concern should be to preserve them as long as possible, as they usually lose elasticity over time rather than shrinking.

How to Know When a Swimsuit is Too Small

As a rule of thumb, if your bust spills out of the swimsuit or it leaves red marks after use, it is too small.

You should be able to slide a finger under the swimsuit straps and waistband. It should sit snugly, but not tight.

A swimsuit that is too small puts extra stress on the elastic fibers and seams, causing faster wear. It also creates uncomfortable pressure points during movement.

Here is a free downloadable cheat sheet for swimwear! Check out the full premium folding guide for more.