---
name: "fold"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "coreutils"
version: "9.12-2"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux", "freebsd", "openbsd", "macos"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/fold"
---

# fold(1)

wrap each input line to fit in specified width

## NAME

fold - wrap each input line to fit in specified width

## SYNOPSIS

**fold** \[*OPTION*\]... \[*FILE*\]...

## DESCRIPTION

Wrap input lines in each FILE, writing to standard output.

With no FILE, or when FILE is -, read standard input.

Mandatory arguments to long options are mandatory for short options too.

- **-b, --bytes**

  count bytes rather than columns

- **-c, --characters**

  count characters rather than columns

- **-s, --spaces**

  break after blanks, or in words greater than WIDTH

- **-w, --width=WIDTH**

  use WIDTH columns instead of 80

- **--help**

  display this help and exit

- **--version**

  output version information and exit

## AUTHOR

Written by David MacKenzie.

## REPORTING BUGS

Report bugs to: \<bug-coreutils@gnu.org\>.\
 Report any translation bugs to: \<https://translationproject.org/team/\>.\
 GNU coreutils home page: \<https://www.gnu.org/software/coreutils/\>\
 General help using GNU software: \<https://www.gnu.org/gethelp/\>

## COPYRIGHT

Copyright © 2026 Free Software Foundation, Inc. License GPLv3+: GNU GPL version 3 or later \<https://gnu.org/licenses/gpl.html\>.\
 This is free software: you are free to change and redistribute it. There is NO WARRANTY, to the extent permitted by law.

## SEE ALSO

[**fmt**(1)](/fmt/1.md)

Full documentation \<https://www.gnu.org/software/coreutils/fold\>\
 or available locally via: info '(coreutils) fold invocation'