Home / Origami Animals / Origami Crane
The traditional paper crane, folded from a single square with no cuts. It starts from the square base, goes through two petal folds to the bird base, and finishes with reverse folds for the neck, tail and head.
Start with the coloured side up. Fold in half corner to corner, then unfold.
Fold in half along the other diagonal, then unfold.
Turn the paper over.
Fold in half edge to edge, then unfold.
Fold in half the other way, then unfold.
Bring the side corners down to the bottom corner and flatten into a square base.
Fold the lower edges of the top layer to the centre line, then unfold.
Fold the top triangle down along the ends of those creases, then unfold.
Lift the bottom point of the top layer up along the crease. The sides fold in along the creases you just made. This is a petal fold.
Turn the paper over.
Fold the lower edges of the top layer to the centre line, then unfold.
Fold the top triangle down along the ends of those creases, then unfold.
Lift the bottom point of the top layer up along the crease. The sides fold in along the creases you just made. This is a petal fold on this side too. This shape is the bird base.
Fold the lower edges of the top layer in to the centre line.
Turn the paper over.
Do the same on this side.
Inside reverse fold the right flap up between the layers. This will be the neck.
Inside reverse fold the left flap up the same way. This will be the tail.
Inside reverse fold the tip of the neck down to make the head.
Fold the front wing down. Fold the back wing down behind.
Gently pull the wings apart and puff out the body. Your crane is done.
One square of paper. 15 cm (6 inch) origami paper is ideal; any square sheet works.
It is rated intermediate and takes 20 steps. Take your time on the steps where the paper changes shape.
Yes. The printable PDF has every diagram and step on 3 pages.
