How to Fold a Traditional Origami Box With Lid

These instructions will show you how to make an origami box, also known as a masu box.

Masu boxes were originally square wooden boxes used to measure portions of rice during the feudal period in Japan. They came in various sizes, ranging from about 0.18 L to as big as 18 L.

This paper version is quite easy to fold and makes a perfect little box to hold small items like paper clips, candies, or whatever you want.

When you’re finished, the paper should lock together and hold its shape pretty well. If you find that a flip or two keeps sticking out at the bottom of the inside of the box, you can use a bit of tape or glue to hold them down.

If you fill the boxes with something, that’ll hold everything down nicely as well.

Are you ready to create an origami box? Let’s get started.

Traditional Origami Masu Box Step-by-Step Instructions

• Difficulty: Easy – Beginner Level 3
• Folding time: 10 minutes
• Model designer: Traditional
• Recommended paper: Chiyogami 15×15 cm (6×6 in)

Step 1

Start with a square sheet of paper with the white side facing up. Fold the paper in half horizontally. Crease it well and then unfold it.

Step 2

Fold the paper in half vertically. Crease it well and then unfold it.

Step 3

Fold the corner of the paper to the center. You’ll do this on each of the 4 corners.

Step 4

Fold the next corner to the center of the model.

Step 5

Fold the next corner to the center of the model.

Step 6

Fold the final corner to the center of the model.

Step 7

Rotate the model 45 degrees so it’s square again.

Step 8

Fold the top part of the model along the dotted line to the center.

Step 9

Fold the bottom part of the model along the dotted line to the center.

Step 10

Crease both these folds very well and then unfold them.

Step 11

These next 2 steps technically aren’t necessary, but they make 2 later steps slightly easier. Fold the left part of the model along the dotted line to the center.

Step 12

Fold the right part of the model along the dotted line to the center.

Step 13

Crease both these folds very well and then unfold them.

Step 14

Unfold the top and bottom triangles of the paper.

Step 15

Fold the right side of the model to the center along the dotted line. Part of this crease is already here, which will make it a bit easier.

Step 16

Fold the left side of the model to the center along the dotted line.

Step 17

Slowly pull the model open at the top, following the dotted lines. The creases here are already made.

Step 18

When you pull the model open, it should take a shape that looks like this. The creases are all already made, so everything should fall into place.

Step 19

Fold the flap of paper down along the dotted line that intersects the two triangles. This will form the edge of the box. Fold the top triangle of paper up a little bit to fit into place at the bottom of the box.

Step 20

Fold the other side of the box now along the existing creases as you did in steps 17 and 18. The paper should fall into place and give you a shape, just like in step 18.

Fold the top flap of paper down along the dotted line to form the edge of the box. Fold the top triangle of paper up a little bit to also fit into the bottom of the box, just like in step 19.

The Completed Traditional Origami Box

How to Create a Lid for Your Paper Box?

If you want to fold a lid for your box, you have a couple of options. First, you can simply use slightly larger paper and fold the lid exactly the same way you did the box itself.

This can be a bit difficult, especially if you’re using standard origami paper like Kami, where each piece you have is exactly the same size.

The other option you have is to fold the box again, but in steps 3, 4, 5, and 6, where you fold the corners of the paper, don’t fold them all the way to the center. This is what I did here.

This will result in a shape that looks like the image below at the end of step 6.

Then, continue to fold the model by following the steps above, just like you did before. Fold the paper to the center when it asks you for the following steps.

This will give you a slightly larger box that makes a perfect lid. The triangle flaps in the bottom of the box don’t stay in place as well as they do for the bottom, so feel free to use a tiny piece of tape or some glue to hold them there.

If you close the box by putting the lid over the bottom, it will hold its shape very nicely, even without tape or glue.

How did you do? Post a photo of your box in the comments because we’d love to see it!

If you need help or clarification with any of these steps, feel free to ask in the comments as well.

Download the Full Origami Box Printable PDF Instructions

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