The folding apparatus for automatic folding of flatwork includes a longitudinal folder and a transverse folder following thereafter. In the transverse folder there are two laundry conveyors disposed one behind the other in the conveying direction of a flatwork article arriving from the longitudinal folder. They are spaced apart by a gap stretching essentially across the entire width of the transverse folder. To make a first transverse fold using a folding blade or air blast, a flatwork article to be transversely folded is led into the gap. Prior to this step, the thickness of the flatwork article to be folded is entered into a data entry device or is determined using a measuring device. The width of the gap is adjustable, depending upon the particular thickness of the flatwork article. In this manner optimal conveying along the gap is achieved of a flatwork article having a first transverse fold, independent of thickness. A further laundry conveyor is disposed at the exit end of the gap and the course of its belts located in the area of the said gap end can be changed by adjusting an adjustment roller. Following the making of a second transverse fold, the belts can be lowered in the said area, by which the flatwork article can reach the output location without having to queue up at a narrow point.