How to Fold a Traditional Origami Owl
Are you ready for a fun and slightly more challenging origami project? With each fold, you’ll bring a fascinating creature to life, capturing its wisdom and quiet beauty.
The traditional origami owl offers an interesting way to practice your folding (and cutting) skills.
Don’t worry if this model seems a bit trickier. We’ll guide you step by step as we turn a simple sheet of paper into a wise little owl.
Traditional Origami Owl Step-by-Step Instructions
- Difficulty: Easy – Beginner Level 4
- Folding time: 15-20 minutes
- Model designer: Traditional
- Material: Kami 15×15 cm (6×6 in), Scissors
Step 1
Start with the white side of the paper up. Fold in half vertically, then unfold.
Step 2
Fold and unfold horizontally in half. Then, turn the paper over.
Step 3
Fold and unfold along the diagonals.
Step 4
Rotate the paper 45 degrees clockwise and turn it over.
Step 5
Collapse along the existing creases to form a Square Base.
Step 6
Fold and unfold along the dotted lines.
Step 7
Petal fold by bringing the bottom corner up and folding along the creases made in Step 6.
Step 8
Turn the model over and repeat Steps 6 to 7 on the other side.
Step 9
Fold the top flap down. The, repeat on the other side.
Step 10
Fold the top edges to the centerline. The, repeat on the other side.
Step 11
Gently pull the middle right flap outward.
Lift it up and pivot it toward you so it lies flat. Adjust the angle as needed and press to flatten.
Step 12
Repeat Step 11 on the left side.
Step 13
Time to fold the owl’s head! Make a pleat by folding the tip once with a valley fold, then again with a mountain fold.
Step 14
Fold the tip down along the dotted line.
Step 15
Make a small cut along the centerline of the top layer only.
Step 16
Fold the flaps up to form the talons.
Step 17
Turn the model over.
Step 18
On each side, make a cut along the dotted lines on the top layer only.
Lift the flaps to form the ear tufts. Then, turn the model over.
The Completed Origami Owl
Congratulations on folding your very own origami owl!
This lovely paper owl will make a perfect addition to your origami collection or a great handmade gift.
I hope you had fun with the process and feel inspired to keep exploring other origami models.
Feel free to share your creations with us in the comments or on socials!
Download the Full Origami Owl Printable PDF Instructions
We’d love to keep you in the loop, so by sharing your email with us, you’ll be signed up for our mailing list. Don’t worry; we won’t bombard you with spammy emails, and your information is safe with us – we won’t share it with anyone else.
Watch the Origami Owl Video Tutorial
🌸 Enjoyed this tutorial? Subscribe to our YouTube channel for new inspiring origami videos every week!
The owl looks cool, but this is not a traditional origami. Origami should never involve scissors, as this referred to as ‘kirigami’.
Hi Nils! You make a good point. Many modern folders prefer to avoid scissors and follow the “folding only” rule. However, that’s actually a more recent convention. In older Japanese traditions, small cuts were sometimes part of the process, and several classical folding texts include them.
Over time, a movement toward “pure folding only” became popular, so today we often distinguish between origami (folding only) and kirigami (folding plus cutting). But there’s really no strict rule – it’s more a stylistic choice. We like to keep models true to their original form, so if the traditional version includes a cut, we diagram it the same way. It also helps keep the model accessible to beginners.
Wow this owl is so cool!