How to Fold a Napkin in 13 Beautiful Ways

Practice these sophisticated napkin folds ahead of your next celebration.

folding napkin techniques
Photo: Alpha Smoot

Beautifully folded napkins set the scene for a meal to remember. When your guests sit down to your table, napkins serve a practical purpose—they tuck in utensils or display menu cards—and offer decorative flair by reinforcing your party's theme.

Napkins can be customized to suit any celebration at any time of the year. One of our easiest ideas? Transform a napkin into a handsome bow tie. Or fold your napkin into an envelope that contains anything you see fit: a place card, the menu, or a parting favor to be cherished after the event is over.

Consider seasonal holidays, too. For Easter brunch, prop up a floppy-eared bunny among the decorated eggs and spring flowers. At Thanksgiving, replicate the symbol of the feast: a turkey (you will accordion-fold and fan out one napkin into a stately-looking row of tail feathers). Your napkins can even be personalized with embroidery, turning them into family heirlooms you'll use for years.

Ahead, we'll teach you how to fold napkins in 13 different ways with our step-by-step tutorials.

It's a good idea to starch and iron your napkins prior to folding them; this helps them to retain their shape.

01 of 13

Bow Tie Napkin Fold

Pink bow place setting
Graham Pollack

Here, a pretty bow adds playfulness to the table.

  1. Spread a dinner napkin out, lying flat.
  2. Fold opposite sides in so they meet at the center. Then fold horizontally again at the center to form a narrow, ribbon-like shape. Next, fold short ends in so they meet at the center.
  3. Cinch in the middle with a ribbon in a coordinating color, and glue at back.
02 of 13

Angled Pocket Napkin Fold

napkin fold pocket
Alpha Smoot

This is easy as one, two, three: Start with a square dinner napkin and give it a three-way fold for an elegant angled pocket. It's handy for tucking flatware, a place card, or a printed menu.

03 of 13

Wrapped Napkin Fold

napkin fold wrapped
Alpha Smoot

Fold a napkin in thirds, wrap it around the plate, and tuck the ends under—you're done! Pair a botanical accent, like a faux or dried branch spray-painted gold, with an unfussy band for the ultimate finishing touch.

04 of 13

Four-Leaf Clover Napkin Fold

st. patrick's day healthy lunch place setting
Debi Traub

On St. Patrick's Day, green isn't limited to shamrocks and leprechauns. At your epic spread, fold these four-leaf clover napkins.

  1. Fold each corner of a square napkin into the center, creating a smaller square, and then fold corners in again into the center.
  2. Flip over and fold each corner to meet in the center. While a finger holds down the center of the napkin, fluff out the bottom of each corner, creating each clover leaf.
  3. For a finishing touch, anchor the center of each napkin with a St. Patrick’s Day-themed trinket. 
05 of 13

Easter Bunny Napkin Fold

bunny ears napkins
Courtesy of Chelsea Cavanaugh

Some magicians pull rabbits out of hats; others conjure them from the linen closet. Do a little sleight of hand (with our how-to) and—presto, chango—you've whipped up a stylish Easter tabletop that lets guests know they're somebunny special.

  1. First, fold a napkin into thirds. Then, fold lower corners up to meet in center, creating a paper-airplane shape.
  2. Flip over the napkin so the seam faces the table. Fold in the outer edges to meet in the center.
  3. Place an egg on pointed tip, tie "ears" above it with ribbon, and nestle egg into place.
06 of 13

Carrot Napkin Fold

Martha's Easter brunch table
Ryan Liebe

At the table for Martha's Easter brunch, crepe-paper leaves sprout from napkins rolled to resemble purple carrots.

  1. To recreate the look, fold a square napkin in half, then in half again, forming a smaller square. Roll the napkin into a narrow cone and tuck in the ends.
  2. Use our template to cut out leaf shapes from green crepe paper. Roll and tuck them into open end.
07 of 13

Turkey Napkin Fold

folded turkey napkins with two candles on table
Manal Aman

For a Thanksgiving feast, this triple-napkin turkey with a fanning tail makes a bold statement from the moment your guests sit at the table.

For the turkey body:

  1. Fold just the top two corners into the center, then twice more, making a narrow triangle.
  2. Fold the pointed top back, folding the napkin in half, then fold the tip back, making the turkey head, and set aside.

For the feathers:

  1. Create two rows with two different sized napkins folded in the same way. Fold napkin in half lengthwise, then fold accordion style from the shorter end, leaving three inches at the end unfolded.
  2. Flip over, fold in half, and then fold and tuck the flat end into the middle accordion.
  3. Fan out and stack each feather napkin on the turkey body, with the neck and head arranged upright.
08 of 13

Christmas Tree Napkin Fold

christmas tree napkin fold table setting with name tags
Shanna Sullivan

Make things merry at your holiday table with a tabletop tannenbaum. This one—with its upturned folds resembling evergreen boughs—is topped with a star "topper" that serves as the place card.

  1. Fold a square napkin in half, and then again, so it's a quarter of its original size. Turn the napkin to a diamond position with the open corners facing you, then fold each corner up, starting with the top fold, in a descending row.
  2. Flip over, fold into thirds, and flip over again. Turn the top flap up, and continue with the next flap below by tucking it into the flap above, creating the rows of Christmas tree branches.
  3. After the fourth row, tuck the remaining layer under the napkin.
09 of 13

Dinner Roll Napkin Fold

dinner roll napkin
Johnny Miller

Some holiday parties require every serving dish you own—and then some. Improvise a bread basket with a large rectangular cloth napkin or dish towel, preferably starched linen (the stiffer the fabric, the better it will hold its shape).

  1. Lay the fabric horizontally on a table. Fold the longer side up, slightly more than halfway. Fold the top half down in the same way, so the two edges overlap by an inch.
  2. Turn it over, and fold the shorter sides in to meet. For extra security, pin in place.
  3. Flip over again, and place rolls or a sliced loaf into the opening.
10 of 13

Envelope Napkin Fold

Blue and White Letter Envelope Place Setting
Graham Pollack

Simple yet sophisticated, this design is perfect for sealing a printed menu, a party favor, or... who knows? It's up to you. Lift the flap secured with a wax seal featuring the family initial, and your guests are impressed with a hidden surprise.

To fold a square napkin envelope-style, fold it into a triangle, tuck in both pointed ends twice, then tuck in the top flap.

11 of 13

Lotus Napkin Fold

a98917_1101_lotus.jpg
Victor Schrager

Create a beautiful, botanical moment with napkins folded in the shape of lotus flowers. The lotus napkin fold makes a pretty backdrop to a roll, party favor, or flower.

  1. Fold each corner of a square napkin into the center, creating a smaller square.
  2. Flip over and fold each corner into the center.
  3. While a finger holds down the center of the napkin, pull up the flap from underneath at each corner to create the lotus petals.
12 of 13

Bunny Ears Napkin Fold

Napkin Bunny Fold Video

Here's another cute take on an Easter bunny napkin fold: For bunny ears that stand upright on your holiday place settings, try this adorable napkin fold using well-starched napkins for best results.

  1. Form a rectangle by folding napkin in thirds, then create a centerline by folding in half just to create a crease for reference.
  2. Fold corners down along center line, then fold up from the bottom corners along center. Fold left and right edges into center.
  3. Flip upside down and over, then turn up the bottom point.
  4. To fasten, tuck one corner into the pocket of the other and pull out bunny ears.
13 of 13

Flower Vase Napkin Fold

A napkin styled as a vase holds a bouquet of spring flowers.
Janelle Jones

A mini vase full of hand-picked flowers makes a pretty garden party favor that's also functional when wrapped with a napkin.

  1. Fold a square napkin in half, fold the top right corner into the center, and do the same with the opposite corner, so they meet in the middle.
  2. Flip over, and fold front-facing half of napkin up, leaving the left flap unfolded.
  3. Reach underneath napkin and unfold the right fold so it lays flat, then roll napkin around a small vase, tuck in napkin end to secure, and fold down top corners along the vase’s edge.
  4. Fill vase with water and add a mix of flowers to arrange a petite bouquet.
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