How to Fold a Paper Crane: Clear Steps for Beginners

This guide shows the traditional origami crane fold, including the preliminary folds that create a square base and bird base. Use one square sheet of lightweight paper; origami paper is easiest, but thin printer paper cut into a square works too. Fold on a clean, flat surface, and run a fingernail or the side of a finger along each crease.

What You’ll Need

One square sheet of paper. A sheet around 15 cm (6 in) on each side is a manageable size for a first attempt.
A flat work surface. No glue, tape, scissors, or other tools are needed if your paper is already square.

Step-by-Step

Make the first diagonal folds. Place the paper with its colored or patterned side down if you want that side to show on the finished crane. Fold one corner to its opposite corner to make a triangle, crease firmly, and unfold. Repeat with the other pair of opposite corners. You should see two diagonal creases crossing at the center.
Fold the paper in half both ways. Fold the square in half from one edge to the opposite edge, crease, and unfold. Turn the paper a quarter turn and make the same fold in the other direction. The square now has four creases meeting at its center: two diagonals and two straight folds.
Collapse the square base. Turn the sheet so one corner points toward you. Bring the left and right corners together and fold the paper flat along the existing creases. The top corner folds down and the bottom corner folds up as the layers collapse. You should have a smaller square with a closed point nearest you and loose flaps at the top. This is the preliminary base.
Fold the lower edges to the center. Keep the closed point nearest you. On the top layer, bring the lower left edge to the vertical center crease and press it flat. Do the same with the lower right edge. The two folded edges should meet neatly at the center line.
Fold down the top triangle and unfold. Fold the pointed triangle at the top down across the two flaps, making a horizontal crease along their upper ends. Crease it, then unfold the triangle and open the two side flaps. Lift the top layer at the closed point and bring it upward, using the creases you just made to guide the paper.
Make the long diamond shape. As you lift the bottom point, push the left and right sides inward along their existing creases. Flatten the raised layer into a long diamond. Turn the model over and repeat the same lower-edge folds, top-triangle crease, and lift-and-flatten sequence on the other side. The result is the bird base, a narrow diamond with two long loose legs at the bottom.
Fold the legs inward and shape the head and tail. With the open ends of the legs pointing down, fold the lower left and right edges of the top layer to the center line, as you did earlier. Turn the model over and repeat. Swing one narrow leg upward along its crease, keeping its edges aligned; repeat with the other leg. These will become the neck and tail. Fold the tip of one leg down to make the head. The head can go on either side.
Fold down the wings. Fold one broad flap down from the top of the body, then fold the other broad flap down on the opposite side. Make the folds at similar heights so the wings look balanced. Do not pull the wings sharply outward yet; leave enough room to hold the body.
Open the crane gently. Hold the body near its lower sides and pull the wings apart with light, even pressure. The body should puff slightly as the center opens. Stop if the paper starts to tear, and ease the wings back together before trying again with a smaller movement. Adjust the neck, tail, and head so they sit upright.

Common Mistakes

Using paper that is too thick. Cardstock resists the many layered folds and can make the crane bulky. Choose thin, crisp paper that holds a crease without cracking.
Starting with a rectangle. A rectangle will not collapse into the square base correctly. Trim it into a true square first, or use a square sheet.
Misaligning corners and edges. Small gaps at the start become more noticeable in later folds. Bring the edges together before pressing the crease, rather than creasing first and trying to adjust afterward.
Skipping or reversing a crease. The preliminary base and bird base depend on the diagonal and straight folds working together. If the paper will not collapse smoothly, check that the creases meet at the center and follow the fold directions in the steps.
Pulling the wings too hard. A sudden tug can split the body or flatten the crane. Open the wings slowly and stop when the body is gently puffed.

Tips

Make every crease firmly, but do not press so hard that the paper tears or becomes polished and slippery.
For patterned paper, check which side is facing out before beginning. The side placed down at the start is generally the side that appears on the crane’s outside.
If you are learning the folds, practice first with plain paper. Once the sequence feels familiar, use a thinner or more decorative sheet.
Keep the model oriented with the same closed point nearest you when following a step. Turning it accidentally can make left and right folds confusing.
For a more balanced shape, make the neck and tail folds similar in length and bring both wings down at matching angles.

Troubleshooting

The square base will not collapse: Open the paper and check the creases. The diagonals must cross at the center, and the two straight folds must also meet there. Refold each line, then try bringing the side corners together while allowing the top and bottom corners to move inward.

The diamond is lopsided: Before pressing the lift-and-flatten fold flat, bring its lower point to the center line and align the edges. If it is already creased, unfold that layer carefully and redo the fold rather than forcing the opposite side to compensate.

The neck or tail will not stay up: Reopen the narrow fold slightly, align its edges, and press the crease firmly from the body toward the tip. A sharply defined crease usually holds better than a rounded bend.

The paper tears while opening the wings: The paper may be too thick, the body may be over-creased, or the wings may be pulled too far. Let the model rest, then try a smaller, gentler movement. If it is badly torn, start again with thinner paper and avoid pulling past the point where the center begins to open.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the paper have to be a perfect square?

It should be square for the traditional crane folds to align. Even a small difference between the sides can make the base uneven, so trim a rectangular sheet before folding.

What size paper is easiest for a beginner?

A square around 15 cm (6 in) on each side is a practical starting size: it is large enough to handle but not so large that the folds become unwieldy. Thin paper is more important than an exact size.

Can I use ordinary printer paper?

Yes, if you cut it into a square first. Standard printer paper is often thicker than origami paper, so crease carefully and open the wings gently.

Which side of the paper should face up?

For a two-sided sheet, place the side you want to show on the outside facing down at the start. If both sides look the same, either orientation is fine.

How do I make the crane’s wings spread?

Hold the body near the bottom and pull the wings apart gradually. The center should open and puff without a sharp tug; stop as soon as the body takes shape.

Can I fold a crane without scissors or glue?

Yes. The crane is made from a single square sheet, and the folds hold it together. Scissors are only useful for turning a rectangular sheet into a square before you begin.

Sources: Japan Origami Association. Menus and buttons can differ slightly by version. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.