How to Make an Origami Paper Airplane

The origami paper airplane is probably the most well-known of all paper airplanes, and it’s easy to see why. It’s simple enough to make that almost anyone can fold one after learning the steps, but it’s also complex enough that you can add your own flair to the design, making it truly unique. If you’re looking for something fun and relatively simple to do that doesn’t require many supplies, this origami paper airplane project is just the thing.

Step 1. Fold your square

We’re going to make a paper airplane out of origami, which means you start with a square piece of paper. The size of your paper is up to you, but bigger is better. (We recommend using at least a 12-inch square.) Begin by folding your square into quarters along both diagonals so that you have four smaller squares. Then, fold each corner into the center so that you have a smaller square in each corner and one big rectangle in between. This will create one long edge and two short edges on each side of your larger paper rectangle. Unfold and flatten out again.

Step 2. Fold each corner into the center

Fold each corner into the center of your paper airplane. This will be Step 2 in our origami instructions. In a few moments, you’ll have completed Step 3 in our step-by-step guide for how to make a paper airplane. You’re almost done! It's time for Step 3, below!

Step 3. Open up the top right flap

Take your right hand and fold it towards you. Then, take your left hand and fold it away from you. You should have a folded piece of paper that looks like a triangle with two slits on top. You will now repeat step 3, but instead of folding both hands towards each other, fold them one away from each other at a time. If done correctly, you should have made 2 folds per side (4 total) along each side of your triangle, creating 4 equal sides when unfolded. From here on out we will call these 4 sides A B C D and E for ease of identification.

Step 4. Fold left side into center

Take your left-side corner and fold it toward where you just made your last crease. Be sure to match up all corners as you do so. Then, simply repeat step 3 until you have completed folding all four sides into their respective centers, creating a simple paper airplane. What’s more is that once you’ve mastered one type of plane, there are many other models that you can try making with different levels of difficulty! Practice makes perfect after all!

Step 5. Flip over

Flip over one half of your paper airplane so that it faces you and cut off a small triangle. This will be your nose. Draw two large circles on each side of the plane's nose; these will be your eyes. On either side of your plane, draw two diagonal lines that extend from its eye toward its nose; these are antennae. Just below your top line, write How to make paper airplane in very small letters.

Step 6. Bend the end up and down towards you

Fold again. Crease it well and unfold. Now, pull out corners A and B. It should look like an airplane with its wings pulled back ready for flight

Step 7. Hold the bottom tips together with thumb and index finger

Think of holding a flashlight. This is a paper airplane hold. The tips are touching at two points, which makes for a sturdier structure and more controlled flight once it’s in the air. This step may take some practice for beginners. If you have problems getting your index finger and thumb together, wrap a rubber band around them until they get used to that feeling—then you won’t need it anymore!

Step 8. Open up bottom tips

The next thing you need to do is take a look at your finished paper airplane and determine where you’d like it fold open. Think about what parts of your airplane are going to have hinges, and consider how big those hinges should be in relation to everything else. (You don’t want them too small or too big.) Once you have that figured out, cut your folds with scissors or make them with a craft knife for clean edges. Hint: If you really want people impressed by your homemade plane, use an X-Acto knife; just be careful not to stab yourself in the process!

Step 9. Close the end flaps on top

Grab the corners on top of your paper airplane and bring them together. You should do one flap at a time, making sure that they’re aligned. Then secure it with a small piece of tape or glue if you have it available. If not, hold them in place until it dries naturally or press against another surface until they stick. The closer your flaps are to each other, they more stable your plane will be in flight. So don’t make them too wide but try to get them as close as possible without overlapping because overlapping will increase drag and could cause turbulence while you’re flying.

Here you go

You can buy a paper airplane for a few bucks, but it’s much cheaper (and environmentally friendly) to make your own. The only supplies you need are: two sheets of standard printer paper and some tape. Then follow the above  steps

Play with your new paper airplane

To start, fold a square piece of paper in half. Then open it back up and fold it into a triangle. Fold one corner of your triangle down about halfway and then repeat on both sides so that you have two small triangles. Next, turn your plane over and repeat, folding each corner down halfway. This should leave you with four little flaps that are pointing toward each other at a diagonal angle. Now simply place your thumbs in between two of these flaps and pinch them together as if you were pinching a cord between your fingers (you’ll feel ridges from where you folded). At that point just let go of one flap while continuing to hold onto the others so that they spring open in front of you as air fills up under them during flight. Congratulations! You’ve made a paper airplane! Now play with it and enjoy, Have a nice day!