# So what is shortsheeting a bed anyway? And why is it hilarious? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 14, 2026, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-is-shortsheeting-a-bed-anyway-and-why-is-it-hilarious/1029279 "2026-04-14T21:14:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Two\_Many\_Cats2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/779978/32.png) [@Two\_Many\_Cats2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Two_Many_Cats2)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2026, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-is-shortsheeting-a-bed-anyway-and-why-is-it-hilarious/1029279/1 "2026-04-14T21:14:37Z")
I just watched an old _Adam-12_ rerun where Malloy goes on a youth camping trip as a counsellor and he tells Reed that the kids shortsheeted his bed. I’ve heard of this periodically, although not anytime recently, and I get that it’s a practical joke. Like fixing some bedsheets so that it doesn’t fit a person getting into bed or something? How is that funny? It just sounds lame. Was this ever really a thing? ---
**Author:** ![Folly](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folly/32/3219_2.png) [@Folly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folly)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2026, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-is-shortsheeting-a-bed-anyway-and-why-is-it-hilarious/1029279/2 "2026-04-14T21:27:14Z")
I believe you tuck in the top sheet under the mattress at the head of the bed to make it look like the bottom sheet or fitted cover. Then you fold the bottom up to make it look like the top sheet is still in place. It looks fine but you’ve created a sort of pocket that the person climbing into the bed gets caught in. Requires a cover, blanket, duvet on top to hide everything. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2026, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-is-shortsheeting-a-bed-anyway-and-why-is-it-hilarious/1029279/3 "2026-04-14T21:46:07Z")
So, I guess you jump into bed at full speed, and..what? Rip you feet through the sheets? If you don’t damage the sheets, all the jokester gets is you having to remake your bed. Seems like a lot of nothing. And if you pull the covers down, like a lot of people, you can tell before you jump in. Like the Adam 12 episode about TPing a house. Is it a good thing or a bad thing? Both, and neither. I hear the words, but they make no sense. ---
**Author:** ![Melbourne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5e925/32.png) [@Melbourne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melbourne)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2026, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-is-shortsheeting-a-bed-anyway-and-why-is-it-hilarious/1029279/4 "2026-04-14T21:46:25Z")
> [@Two\_Many\_Cats2](#): > > How is that funny? It just sounds lame. That describes a lot of TV. I think IRL must be similar. Tangent: I slept in a short-sheeted bed for a year when I was 9. At the start of the year, I was short enough to fit. At the end of the year I was curled up on my side – the way I slept for the next 10 years. ---
**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2026, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-is-shortsheeting-a-bed-anyway-and-why-is-it-hilarious/1029279/5 "2026-04-14T21:48:32Z")
Take the top sheet off. Fold the bottom sheet up from the bottom so it’s about doubled up. Put the blanket back on, folding a bit of the bottom sheet back over it as if it were the top sheet. When somebody tries to get into the bed, they’ll only be able to get halfway in, because the bed’s effectively been shortened to about half its length. Many people do find this funny, if they’re about 8. — note that description only works well if the bottom sheet’s also a flat sheet. But when I was about 8, they usually were. ---
**Author:** ![Folly](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folly/32/3219_2.png) [@Folly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folly)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2026, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-is-shortsheeting-a-bed-anyway-and-why-is-it-hilarious/1029279/6 "2026-04-14T21:49:24Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > If you don’t damage the sheets, all the jokester gets is you having to remake your bed Yeah, you have to fix the bed. RIght when you thought you were about to get comfy cozy. That’s it. But, personally, I prefer the practical jokes where nobody is hurt and nothing is damaged. (I don’t think you’re going to be ripping through the sheets so easily) ---
**Author:** ![Folly](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folly/32/3219_2.png) [@Folly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folly)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2026, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-is-shortsheeting-a-bed-anyway-and-why-is-it-hilarious/1029279/7 "2026-04-14T21:50:43Z")
> [@thorny\_locust](#): > > — note that description only works well if the bottom sheet’s also a flat sheet. Googling says fitted sheets came about in the 50s. So probably a less popular prank after those become more common. But can still work if the person isn’t paying too much attention. ---
**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2026, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-is-shortsheeting-a-bed-anyway-and-why-is-it-hilarious/1029279/8 "2026-04-14T21:53:29Z")
> [@Folly](#): > > Googling says fitted sheets came about in the 50s True; but IME not in common use, especially on children’s beds, until sometime in the 60’s. ETA: I never heard of anybody ripping the sheets. You just had to get up and remake your bed. ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2026, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-is-shortsheeting-a-bed-anyway-and-why-is-it-hilarious/1029279/9 "2026-04-14T22:00:07Z")
Short sheeting is the penultimate movement in a whole symphony made up of minor pranks. Sabotage the pajamas, the toothpaste, the light switch, etc. The victim’s ultimate goal is to just sleep, and you throw as many obstacles in front of that goal as possible. You get him so worked up, he remakes the bed in a snit and then jumps in bed with such resolve that the bed boards you carefully sawed half way through finally give. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2026, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-is-shortsheeting-a-bed-anyway-and-why-is-it-hilarious/1029279/10 "2026-04-14T22:07:15Z")
I mean, any time I encounter a fully-made bed, the first thing I do is strip off everything aside from the fitted sheet, toss it in a pile on the floor, and pick the one layer that I want to sleep under, so this would never have worked on me in the first place. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2026, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-is-shortsheeting-a-bed-anyway-and-why-is-it-hilarious/1029279/11 "2026-04-14T22:31:27Z")
I never make my bed. What’s the point? The only one that sees it is me and my wife. ---
**Author:** ![Melbourne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5e925/32.png) [@Melbourne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melbourne)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2026, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-is-shortsheeting-a-bed-anyway-and-why-is-it-hilarious/1029279/12 "2026-04-14T22:34:37Z")
My wife makes me do it. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2026, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-is-shortsheeting-a-bed-anyway-and-why-is-it-hilarious/1029279/13 "2026-04-14T22:35:38Z")
> [@Folly](#): > > I prefer the practical jokes where nobody is hurt and nothing is damaged. Are there any? Emergency! had the episode where Chet was pranking Johnny with water buckets. Have to go dry up and change uniform or shirt every time. Maybe putting coal black on your binoculars would be safe. Especially on a WWII submarine, where you could end up having it around your eyes for days if no one told you. > [@Folly](#): > > I don’t think you’re going to be ripping through the sheets so easily I’ve never been short-sheeted. I was just wondering if that was the point. ---
**Author:** ![california\_jobcase](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9d8465/32.png) [@california\_jobcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/california_jobcase)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2026, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-is-shortsheeting-a-bed-anyway-and-why-is-it-hilarious/1029279/14 "2026-04-14T22:36:16Z")
I always heard it was to unmake the bed (on a bed with sheets, a blanket, and a bedspread) so the sheets and blanket were folded up under the bedspread so that when one gets into bed his legs and feet are on top of the bare mattress, under the bedspread. Yeah, I too don’t remember the last time I slept in a bed with a bedspread. ---
**Author:** ![Thumper668](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thumper668/32/20803_2.png) [@Thumper668](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thumper668)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2026, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-is-shortsheeting-a-bed-anyway-and-why-is-it-hilarious/1029279/15 "2026-04-14T22:39:26Z")
When I was in Navy boot camp in the 80s it was a thing. You fold the top sheet so that when the victim crawls into bed his legs don’t fit and only go halfway in. The gag is that they have to disassemble the whole thing to get into bed which means that they have to start from scratch to make the bed the next morning instead of just tightening up the sheets. Making beds is important in boot camp. So is time, especially at reveille. That’s the gag. ETA: It didn’t take long to realize that the antidote is to sleep on TOP of the sheets so you just need to fold the blanket and tighten it up in the morning, and then fix it when you have time. ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2026, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-is-shortsheeting-a-bed-anyway-and-why-is-it-hilarious/1029279/16 "2026-04-14T22:51:08Z")
The goal of the prank is to make the victim have to remake their bed. And to accomplish this, _you_ have to remake their bed. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2026, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-is-shortsheeting-a-bed-anyway-and-why-is-it-hilarious/1029279/17 "2026-04-14T22:54:21Z")
> [@Folly](#): > > Googling says fitted sheets came about in the 50s. So probably a less popular prank after those become more common. We did it a couple of times when I was a kid (1970s), when we had fitted bottom sheets. The prank can be done just as well with the top sheet: you tuck the “top” of the top sheet into the head of the mattress, spread it out across the mattress, then fold it back up towards the head so that the other end winds up about where the “top” of the top sheet would normally be. And, no, the prankee didn’t “rip through the sheet” when they got into bed; their feet and legs simply couldn’t extend past the halfway point of the mattress. It was surprising, unexpected, and annoying, which was the entire point. ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2026, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-is-shortsheeting-a-bed-anyway-and-why-is-it-hilarious/1029279/18 "2026-04-14T23:12:44Z")
> [@thorny\_locust](#): > > Take the top sheet off. Fold the bottom sheet up from the bottom so it’s about doubled up. Put the blanket back on, folding a bit of the bottom sheet back over it as if it were the top sheet. > > When somebody tries to get into the bed, they’ll only be able to get halfway in, because the bed’s effectively been shortened to about half its length. > > Many people do find this funny, if they’re about 8. > > — note that description only works well if the bottom sheet’s also a flat sheet. But when I was about 8, they usually were. Thank you for this. I’ve never really understood how short-sheeting worked until reading this explanation. Now it makes sense. mmm ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2026, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-is-shortsheeting-a-bed-anyway-and-why-is-it-hilarious/1029279/19 "2026-04-14T23:27:46Z")
> [@Thumper668](#): > > When I was in Navy boot camp in the 80s it was a thing. Same in the 60s. So was a “blanket party” for someone who was a fuck-up. An example of that can be seen in “Full Metal Jacket”. ---
**Author:** ![Thumper668](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thumper668/32/20803_2.png) [@Thumper668](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thumper668)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2026, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-is-shortsheeting-a-bed-anyway-and-why-is-it-hilarious/1029279/20 "2026-04-14T23:31:34Z")
Yeah, that was thing too. In fact, most of the boot camp scenes in FMJ were relatable even though I was a squid 20 years later. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-is-shortsheeting-a-bed-anyway-and-why-is-it-hilarious/1029279.md?page=2)