The method for manufacturing tubular knitted articles (M) comprises the steps of: a) knitting a tubular knitted article (M) with the needle cylinder (3); b) transferring loops (MA) of a last-formed course of loops from the needles (5) of the needle cylinder (3) onto the pick-up members (27A, 27B) of a transfer unit (21), divided into two circular half-rings (25A, 25B, 27A, 27B) which can be overturned over each other; c) overturning one of the circular half-rings (25A, 25B, 27A, 27B) of pick-up members (27B) onto the other so as to arrange two edge portions of the final edge of the tubular knitted article (M) one onto the other; d) joining the two edge portions to one another by means of joining stitches (A, B, C, D) formed in intermediate spaces between adjacent pick-up members (27A), whereon the knitted tubular article (M) is retained; e) unloading the knitted tubular article (M) with the closed toe from the transfer unit (21).