How to Fold an Origami Crane: 8 Step Beginner Tutorial

If your paper isn't already square, here's how to make one. Take a rectangular sheet, fold one corner diagonally over so the short edge lines up with the long edge. You'll have a triangle with a strip of extra paper sticking out the bottom.

Cut that strip off with scissors, then unfold. You now have a perfect square with one diagonal crease already done for you, which is a head start on the next step.

Fold the square in half diagonally, corner to corner, and crease firmly. Unfold. Now fold the other diagonal so it crosses the first crease, then unfold again.

Your square should now have two intersecting diagonal creases forming an X. These four crease lines set up the structural folds for the rest of the bird, so make sure they go all the way to the corners.

Flip the paper over so the X creases stick up like mountain peaks rather than valleys. Fold the square in half horizontally to crease the middle, then unfold. Fold it in half vertically and unfold again.

You should now have a star pattern: two diagonals running corner to corner, plus two perpendicular lines through the middle. The mix of mountain and valley creases is what lets the next step collapse cleanly.

Lift the paper by the centers of two opposite edges and bring those points together. The diagonal creases will naturally pull the other two corners inward as you press it down.

Press the whole thing flat into a small square with open flaps on one side and a closed point on the other. This shape, four triangle flaps stacked on top of one closed square, is called the square base. Most traditional origami starts here.

Place the square base with the open flaps pointing toward you. Take the bottom-right edge of the top layer and fold it inward to meet the vertical center crease. Do the same with the bottom-left edge.

The top of the figure becomes a narrow point that looks like a kite. Flip the whole stack over and repeat the same two folds on the back. Press all four folds firmly so they hold.

This is the move that surprises beginners. Lift the bottom point of the top layer straight up, opening the kite flaps so the side edges fold inward along their existing creases.

The paper rises up and then collapses flat into a longer, narrower diamond. Flip the whole thing over and repeat on the back. You now have the bird base, which is also the foundation for frogs, lilies, and several other classic models.

Pick one of the long bottom flaps - this will become the neck. Open it slightly and tuck it up between the layers so it points whichever way you want the head to face. This is called an inside reverse fold.

The other long flap becomes the tail. You can leave it pointing the original direction or reverse-fold it the same way to make the bird symmetric. Either looks good.

On the neck flap, pinch a small section near the tip and reverse-fold it forward. That bend becomes the crane's head and beak. A shorter bend gives a stubby head, a longer one looks more graceful, so adjust until you like it.

Gently pull the two wings outward to open up the body. Your origami crane is finished. Make a thousand of them and tradition says you get a wish.