How to Make an Origami Crane

Chrissy Pushkin, also known as Chrissy Pk, is an origami and paper craft expert and writer with 15 years of experience. Chrissy founded the popular website and YouTube channel, Paper Kawaii, where she creates tutorials, templates, printable origami paper, and handmade crafts.

• Total Time: 15 mins

• Skill Level: Beginner
• Estimated Cost: $1

People often associate origami with the origami crane, or tsuru. Its elegant simplicity is striking, and the style is especially popular due to the story of 1,000 cranes (senbazuru). The cranes are also easy to make even if you are new to origami. This step-by-step tutorial will teach you how to make the iconic traditional origami crane.

Watch Now: How to Make an Easy Origami Crane

This well-known origami model is easy to intermediate level. It's a great model for beginners after you've completed other simple models, such as the boat, crow, or elephant.

Tip

If this is your first time making an origami crane, try using a larger piece of paper so you can easily practice all the folds.

What You'll Need

Materials

• Sheet Square paper

Instructions

Make a Square Base

Start by making an origami square base. Begin with your paper color side up.

Fold Diagonally

Fold the paper in half diagonally.

Unfold

Unfold. There should now be a crease in the paper from the diagonal fold.

Fold Diagonally Again

Now fold the paper in half diagonally in the other direction.

Unfold Again

Unfold the paper. Your square should now have two diagonal creases, forming an "X."

Flip Over

Flip the paper over to the other side.

Fold Horizontally

Fold the paper in half horizontally.

Unfold

Unfold to reveal the new crease from the previous fold.

Fold Vertically

Fold the paper in half vertically.

Unfold Again

Unfold to reveal the new crease.

Fold From Top Down

Bring the top point down to the bottom while folding the left and right corners into the center.

Finish Origami Square Base

You should now have a diamond shape with a vertical crease running down the center—this is an origami square base.

Begin a Squash Fold

Starting with your square base, ensure the open end is at the bottom. Fold the right lower edge to the central crease.

Fold Left Side

Now follow suit with the left side; fold the left lower edge to the central crease.

Fold Top Down

Fold the top section down.

Unfold

Now unfold the previous three folds.

Pull Bottom Up

Pull one layer up from the bottom, along the creases you just made.

Finish Squash Fold

Push the left and right edges inwards. This is called a squash fold—you can see the wing is fully "squashed" into place.

Flip Over

Flip the model over to the other side.

Repeat the Squash Fold

Repeat the same steps of the squash fold on this side, starting with the lower right fold to the central crease.

Fold the Left

Now fold the left side to the central crease.

Fold Top Down

Fold the top section down (the smaller triangle) to meet the two folds you just made.

Unfold

Unfold the last three folds you just made.

Pull Bottom Up

Pull one layer up from the bottom, along the creases you just made.

Finish Squash Fold

Push the left and right edges inwards to complete the second squash fold.

Fold Lower Right

Fold the lower right edge to the central crease.

Fold the Other Side

Fold the bottom left corner in the same way, to the crease.

Flip Over

Flip the model over.

Fold the Right Corner

Now fold the entire right lower corner to meet the central crease.

Fold the Left Side

Fold the left lower corner to meet the central crease.

Fold the Neck of the Crane

Fold the lower right flap up, under, and out to the right.

Fold the Tail of the Crane

Do the same with the left side (the tail).

Fold the Head of the Crane

Create a head by flattening the flap, and inside reverse folding a little section down at the top.

Open the Wings

Complete your crane by folding out the wings.

How to Display Your Cranes

There are so many ways to display your origami cranes! They make great party decor and table decorations, and you can also string together a bunch to make a garland.

• For a more creative display, try attaching them to skewers to put in drinks or on top of cakes.
• Get a large branch that you can hang up, and then hang a bunch of origami cranes and other origami models from it!