Folding and rolling a hammam towel: 6 methods for bag, suitcase, wardrobe and gift

A hammam towel is light and thin – but how much space it actually takes up depends heavily on how you fold it. If you want to fold or roll a hammam towel, you'll mostly find product pages without instructions online. Here you get six methods step by step: for sauna bag, suitcase, wardrobe, drawer, bathroom and as a quick gift fold. Plus an overview of which method works best for what, and tips to protect the fringes and fabric.

Contents14

1. Folding a hammam towel: three basic rules first
2. 1. The simple roll for sauna bag and backpack
3. 2. The military roll for the suitcase
4. 3. Classic folding for the wardrobe
5. 4. Upright folding for the drawer
6. 5. For the towel rail in the bathroom
7. 6. The quick gift fold
8. Which method for which purpose?
9. Folding a hammam towel for travel: three packing examples
10. Small towels and large towels
11. Typical mistakes when rolling and storing
12. Creases, fringes, storage: common everyday questions
13. Conclusion
14. Frequently asked questions

Folding a hammam towel: three basic rules first

• Only when dry: A towel rolled or folded while damp quickly starts to smell musty. In our experience at the Meri Sauna, a hammam towel spread out indoors is dry after about 60 minutes, in the sun after about 30 minutes – that time is worth it.
• Smooth the fringes: Before folding, straighten the fringes once with your fingers. That way they won't tangle and will lie neatly.
• Shake it out first: A quick shake smooths the flat-woven towel, and sand or fluff falls out.

1. The simple roll for sauna bag and backpack

1. Fold the towel lengthways once or twice until the strip is about as wide as your bag is deep.
2. Roll it up tightly from one short end.
3. Tuck the fringes loosely in at the end or roll them in.

The roll fits well into side pockets and creases little. For the sauna bag it is the quickest method, because you can take the towel out in one go.

2. The military roll for the suitcase

This method holds itself together and doesn't come undone in the suitcase.

1. Fold one short side about 10 cm outwards – this creates a kind of pocket.
2. Fold the towel lengthways into thirds.
3. Roll it tightly from the other short side towards the pocket.
4. Pull the folded pocket over the finished roll.

Ideal for travel, backpack and hand luggage. If you fold your hammam towel and then roll it this tightly, you get a particularly compact roll, because hardly any air remains between the layers.

3. Classic folding for the wardrobe

1. Fold the towel in half lengthways.
2. Fold it in half lengthways again.
3. Then fold it twice crossways.

Place the towels in the wardrobe with the closed edge facing forwards. The stack then looks calmer, and the fringes don't get caught when you take a towel out. Don't stack too high, so that air can reach the towels.

4. Upright folding for the drawer

If you store towels in a drawer or box, this method lets you see them all at a glance.

1. Fold the towel lengthways into thirds.
2. Fold it in half crossways, then into thirds crossways again.
3. Stand the resulting package upright in the drawer.

This way you can pull out a towel without messing up the stack – handy when several family members have their own colours.

5. For the towel rail in the bathroom

1. Fold the towel lengthways into thirds.
2. Hang it over the rail so that the fringes fall down equally on both sides.

The fringes become a design element this way. For drying after a shower, however, this method is only partly suitable, because several layers lie on top of each other. After use, better spread it out in a single layer.

6. The quick gift fold

1. Fold the towel as for the wardrobe, so that the nicest part of the pattern is on top.
2. Let the fringes show on one side.
3. Tie it with a ribbon.

A towel that already comes rolled in a round gift box is the Towel To Go. For your own ideas, our gift box measuring 32 × 23 × 9 cm holds one hammam towel plus one or two care products. You'll find more wrapping ideas in our article on giving a hammam towel as a gift (link below).

Which method for which purpose?

Method	Ideal for	Pack size	Creases
Simple roll	sauna bag, beach bag	small	few
Military roll	suitcase, backpack, hand luggage	very small	few
Classic fold	wardrobe, shelf	flat	fold lines
Upright fold	drawer, box	compact	fold lines
Towel rail	bathroom, decoration	–	hardly any
Gift fold	small gift, gift box	flat	fold lines

Folding a hammam towel for travel: three packing examples

Sauna day: Two 180 × 100 cm towels as simple rolls side by side in the sauna bag – one for the bench, one for drying off. If you also bring a StayOn for the lounger, put it rolled on top, because it's needed first in the relaxation area.

City break with hand luggage: One hammam towel as a military roll in a corner of the suitcase. It serves as an extra towel in the hotel, a ground cover in the park and a light scarf in the evening.

Beach holiday: One or two towels per person as military rolls, plus one large towel for everyone folded lengthways into quarters and rolled. If you want to fold your hammam towel to make room for souvenirs, simply roll it a little tighter on the way back.

Small towels and large towels

Mini format: Simply fold a Mini hammam towel Diamant measuring approx. 90 × 45 cm twice crossways and once lengthways – then it fits into any gym bag or handbag.

XXL format: Fold large towels like the Coastline XXL at 240 × 200 cm lengthways into quarters first, then roll. Folded, such a towel quickly becomes very thick; rolled, it stays more manageable.

With pocket: With the Ocean StayOn hammam towel at 200 × 70 cm, the sewn-in pocket is best on the outside. Then roll the towel from the other side towards the pocket, similar to the military roll.

Typical mistakes when rolling and storing

• Rolled too loosely: A loose roll comes undone in the bag and takes up more space. Better roll tightly and evenly.
• Packed with sand: Sand between the layers rubs against the fabric and ends up in your home later. Shake it out vigorously before rolling.
• Everything in one bag: Pack wet swimwear and dry towels separately, otherwise the moisture soaks into the towel.
• Permanently in the sauna bag: Unpack and air the towels after every visit instead of leaving them in the bag until next time.

Creases, fringes, storage: common everyday questions

If you fold a hammam towel and leave it in the wardrobe for a long time, flat-woven cotton can show slight lines at the folds. They usually disappear after a quick shake or the first use. We explain whether ironing is worthwhile in a separate article. Don't clamp or knot the fringes tightly when rolling, so they don't come loose. In the wardrobe, cotton towels need a little air – tightly pressed stacks in damp rooms are not ideal.

Related reading: Packing a sauna bag: the checklist for your sauna visit · Ironing a hammam towel: necessary or not? · Giving a hammam towel as a gift: occasions, wrapping and matching combos

Conclusion

How you should fold or roll a hammam towel depends on the purpose: the simple roll is ideal for the sauna bag, the military roll for suitcases and hand luggage, the classic fold for the wardrobe and the upright fold for drawers. With every method, it's important that the towel is properly dry beforehand and that the fringes don't get clamped. You'll find all models in our hammam towels collection.

Frequently asked questions

How do I fold a hammam towel to save the most space?

With the military roll: fold one side over, fold lengthways into thirds, roll tightly and pull the pocket over the roll. The roll holds by itself and takes up hardly any space.

Should I roll or fold a hammam towel?

For bags and suitcases, rolling is better because it is more compact and creases less. For wardrobes and shelves, classic folding is tidier.

How do I fold a hammam towel without damaging the fringes?

Smooth the fringes beforehand, tuck them in loosely when rolling and don't clamp or knot them tightly.

Does a hammam towel get creases when folded?

Slight fold lines are possible. They usually disappear after a quick shake or during use.

Can I roll up a damp hammam towel?

Better not. Towels rolled up damp quickly smell musty. Let it dry spread out first, then roll it.

View space-saving hammam towels

Personally written by Martin – founder of BeachAndSteam and sauna operator at Lake Kulkwitz for more than 18 years.