How to Make an Origami Crane_Easy Origami Step by Step Instructions

Step 1

Start with the white side of the paper facing up and fold it in half diagonally, crease it well and unfold it.

Step 2

Fold it in half again from left to right, crease it well, and unfold it, getting a new crease that is perpendicular to the previous one.

Step 3

Fold it in half from the bottom left edge to the top right edge, crease it well then unfold it.

Step 4

Similarly, fold it in half from the bottom right edge to the top left edge, crease it well then unfold it.

Step 5

Pinch the two creases on the left and right upwards, while fold the left, right and top point down to the bottom point along the creases you just made.

Step 6

Take the bottom right edge, fold it to the left to meet the central crease, crease it well then unfold it.

Repeat this for the left side.

Step 7

Fold the top corner down, and unfold it to make a crease.

Step 8

Fold the bottom point of the above layer up along the crease you just made.

While take the left and right corners, and fold them to the center, making sure to meet the intersection point formed by the two creases. Finally, flatten it.

Step 9

Flip the paper over.

Step 10

Take the right corner, and fold it to the left to meet the intersection point formed by two vertical creases. Crease it well then unfold it.

Repeat this for the left corner.

Step 11

Use the same manner as in step 8, fold the bottom point up along the dotted line, while folding the left and right corners to the center, and finally flatten it.

Step 12

Take the right corner of the above layer, fix the bottom point, and fold it to the left to meet the center line.

Repeat this for the left corner.

Step 13

Flip the paper over.

Step 14

Fold the left and right corners to the center in the same manner as in step 12.

Step 15

Fold the bottom right corner up along the black dotted line, crease it well then unfold it.

Step 16

Open the paper from the right side, rotate it 90 degrees counterclockwise, then fold the right above corner to the left along the crease you just made in the previous step.

Finally, close it and rotate it back to its original position, here we get the head and neck part of the crane.

Step 17

Fold the left corner up along the black dotted line, crease it well and unfold it.

Step 18

Use the same method as step 16 for this left side to form the crane’s tail.

Step 19

Select a small section of the head and neck part, and open it. Press the corner inward, close and flatten it, getting the crane’s head.

Step 20

Take two top corners, and pull them towards their respective sides to spread the wings, now you get a lovely, flying crane.

Meaning of Crane

It is a symbol of hope and peace. According to Japanese legend, folding 1000 origami cranes can grant a wish, such as long life, happiness, or health. This is the traditional Japanese crane. You can make it with different papers in different colors or patterns, then string them together on strings or mobiles for babies.

Birds are always the symbols of freedom and peace. Check our origami birds collection for more inspirations for either uncomplicated or complicated origami birds. If you are new to origami, start here from our beginner guide to know the basics and how to read the step-by-step instructions.

We demonstrate it with traditional education-colored paper, but paper cranes can be super pretty if you use patterned paper. Once you finish your paper crane, you can store it in a shadow box in a random style or arrange it in lines. Happy folding.