Origami Beginner’s Guide
Origami is actually a very easy hobby to pick up, and it’s a lot of fun. All you need is paper, and you can use pretty much any paper you can find. This guide will show you the main folds, the basic bases that are used as the foundation for a huge number of different models, and then you’ll learn how to fold your first model, the traditional paper crane.
Start With the Basics: The Mountain and Valley Folds
These are the two basic folds in origami for beginners. Pretty much every fold is either a mountain fold, a valley fold, or a combination of the two.
Common Origami Folds
Here are the most common folds with step-by-step instructions on how to make them. These folds might not look exactly the same as they do in these examples all the time when you’re folding other models. However, these examples should show you how they work so you can figure out what you’re supposed to do when you’re following diagrams.
Inside Reverse Fold
This is a very common fold in origami where the paper is folded inside of the model.
Outside Reverse Fold
The fold is the opposite of the Inside Reverse Fold. This time, the paper is folded outside of the model.
Crimp
This is very much like a Pleat but made on the outside of the paper, almost like an Outside Reverse Fold.
Petal Fold
This is a fairly common fold, and it’s part of the Bird Base.
Petal Fold Variation
This is a slightly less common variation of the Petal Fold. It’s used in the Frog Base.
Swivel Fold
The Swivel Fold comes up a lot in origami and is somewhat similar to the Petal Fold Variation.
Open Sink
This is the most challenging fold in this guide. If you can’t fold it now, don’t worry. Keep practicing, and eventually, you’ll get it. You won’t see this fold in any beginner-level models anyway.
Origami Bases
There are several bases in origami that are used to start many different models. For example, the bird base is the start of many paper birds. Often, you’ll see instructions telling you to start with a particular base just to save some time or space in the instructions. There aren’t too many bases, and you’ll see the same ones repeated many times in different models.
Square or Preliminary Base
This is probably the most common base in origami and is used in many different models. Sometimes, this base is called a Square Base, and sometimes it’s referred to as a Preliminary Base.
Water Bomb Base
This base is used to fold the traditional origami Water Bomb and that’s where it gets its name. The base is used to fold lots of other things as well.
Bird Base
This base is used to fold a lot of different origami birds, including the paper crane, and that’s where it gets its name from. It’s a very common base and can also be used to fold all kinds of other origami.
Step 11) Crease this fold well and unfold it.
Step 12) Fold the top of the model down along the dotted horizontal line. The endpoints of this horizontal line will line up with the tops of the creases on either side.
Step 13) Crease this fold well and unfold it.
Step 14) Petal Fold the top flap of paper up along the dotted line. There is already a crease here from the previous step.
Step 15) Continue lifting up the top flap of the paper while folding in the sides along the existing creases.
Step 16) Push everything flat along the existing creases.
Step 17) The completed Petal Fold. Turn the model over.
Step 18) Fold the top right flap of paper to the center along the dotted line.
Step 19) Crease this fold well and unfold it.
Step 20) Fold the top left flap of paper to the center along the dotted line.
Step 21) Crease this fold well and unfold it.
Step 22) Fold the top of the model down along the dotted horizontal line. You already folded this on the opposite side of the model, so there will already be a crease here. Now, you will fold it the other way.
Step 23) Crease this fold well and unfold it.
Step 24) Petal Fold the top flap of paper up along the dotted line. There is already a crease here from the previous step.
Step 25) Continue lifting up the top flap of the paper while folding in the sides along the existing creases.
Step 26) Push everything flat along the existing creases.
The completed Bird Base.
Fish Base
This base is used to fold a traditional origami fish, which is where its name comes from.
Step 1) Start with a square sheet of paper with the white side up. Fold it in half along the dotted line and then unfold it. You will use this crease as a guideline in later steps.
Step 2) Fold the bottom right part of the paper to the center along the dotted line.
Step 3) Crease this fold well and then unfold it.
Step 4) Fold the top right part of the paper to the center along the dotted line.
Step 5) Crease this fold well and then unfold it.
Step 6) Make a Rabbit Ear Fold on the right side of the model following the existing creases.
Step 7) Fold the flap of paper to the bottom and fold everything flat.
Step 8) Fold the bottom left part of the paper to the center along the dotted line.
Step 9) Crease this fold well and then unfold it.
Step 10) Fold the top left part of the paper to the center along the dotted line.
Step 11) Crease this fold well and then unfold it.
Step 12) Make a Rabbit Ear Fold on the left side of the model following the existing creases.
Step 13) Fold the flap of paper to the bottom and fold everything flat.
The completed Fish Base.
Frog Base
This is the start of a traditional origami frog, which is where this base gets its name. This is probably the most complicated one of the traditional origami bases.
Step 1) Start with a square sheet of paper with the white side up. Fold it in half along the dotted line.
Step 2) Fold the paper in half again along the dotted line.
Step 3) Bring the top flap of paper up.
Step 4) Squash fold this flap of paper down. Make sure you keep both sides symmetrical. You should end up with a diamond shape.
Step 5) Turn the model over.
Step 6) Lift up the top left flap of paper to the middle.
Step 7) Squash fold this flap of paper down. Make sure you keep both sides symmetrical. You should end up with a diamond shape matching the one on the other side. You now have a Square Base.
Step 8) Bring the top left flap of paper up and towards the middle.
Step 9) Squash Fold this flap down.
Step 10) Push everything flat and make sure everything is squashed symmetrically.
Step 11) Fold the top right flap of paper over to the left.
Step 12) Bring the top right flap of paper up and towards the middle.
Step 13) Squash Fold this flap down.
Step 14) Push everything flat and make sure everything is squashed symmetrically.
Step 15) Turn the model over.
Step 16) Bring the top left flap of paper up and towards the middle.
Step 17) Squash Fold this flap down.
Step 18) Push everything flat and make sure everything is squashed symmetrically.
Step 19) Fold the top right flap over to the left.
Step 20) Bring the top right flap of paper up and towards the middle.
Step 21) Squash Fold this flap down.
Step 22) Push everything flat and make sure everything is squashed symmetrically.
Step 23) Take a moment to make sure your model looks like the diagram above. There should be 4 flaps of paper on each side.
Step 24) Fold the top right flap of paper to the middle along the dotted line.
Step 25) Crease this fold well and then unfold it.
Step 26) Fold the top left flap of paper to the middle along the dotted line.
Step 27) Crease this fold well and then unfold it.
Step 28) Fold a Petal Fold Variation along the horizontal dotted line and the creases you made earlier.
Step 29) Lift up along the dotted line in the previous step and fold everything flat along the existing creases.
Step 30) The completed Petal Fold Variation. You’re going to do this 3 more times.
Step 31) Fold the top left flap of paper along the dotted line in the center over to the right.
Step 32) Fold the new top left flap of paper along the dotted line in the center over the right.
Step 33) Fold the top right flap of paper to the center along the dotted line.
Step 34) Crease this fold well and then unfold it.
Step 35) Fold the top left flap of paper to the center along the dotted line.
Step 36) Crease this fold well and then unfold it.
Step 37) Fold a Petal Fold Variation along the horizontal dotted line and the creases you made earlier.
Step 38) Lift up along the dotted line in the previous step and fold everything flat along the existing creases.
Step 39) Turn the model over.
Step 40) Fold the top right flap of paper to the center along the dotted line.
Step 41) Crease this fold well and then unfold it.
Step 42) Fold the top left flap of paper to the center along the dotted line.
Step 43) Crease this fold well and then unfold it.
Step 44) Fold a Petal Fold Variation along the horizontal dotted line and the creases you made earlier.
Step 45) Lift up along the dotted line in the previous step and fold everything flat along the existing creases.
Step 46) Fold the top left flap of paper along the dotted line in the center over to the right.
Step 47) Fold the new top left flap of paper along the dotted line in the center over the right.
Step 48) Fold the top right flap of paper to the center along the dotted line.
Step 49) Crease this fold well and then unfold it.
Step 50) Fold the top left flap of paper to the center along the dotted line.
Step 51) Crease this fold well and then unfold it.
Step 52) Fold a Petal Fold Variation along the horizontal dotted line and the creases you made earlier.
Step 53) Lift up along the dotted line in the previous step and fold everything flat along the existing creases.
The Completed Frog Base. What you just did was take a Square Base, Squash Fold each of the 4 flaps, and then make a Petal Fold on each one. You can fold each of the flaps in any order you want, but if you follow these instructions exactly, everything should be perfect. Take a moment to check that you have the same number of flaps of paper on each side of the model.
Folding Your First Model, the Traditional Origami Crane
Once you’ve got the hang of all the above folds and bases, you’re more than ready to fold the traditional paper crane. The crane will start off with a bird base, and after that, most of the work is already done. This is probably the most famous model in origami and is the first thing I learned how to fold.
According to legend, if you fold a thousand of these, you get a ton of good luck, or you’re granted a wish.
Looking for Even More Origami Instructions?
We have an absolutely massive database of easy origami diagrams. If you’ve successfully understood all the techniques on this page, you should have no trouble folding anything that’s either Beginner or Easy level difficulty.
If you prefer video instructions, we have a giant database of those, too. Video instructions can be especially helpful as you can see exactly how the paper moves between each step.
Instructions for the best origami models can only be found in books. If you’re still looking for more awesome things to fold, check out our list of best origami books. We’ve written reviews and made lists of the models you’ll find in each one. No matter what you’re looking for, you’ll definitely find some cool things to fold.