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PlayOwl
An opened pink origami cup seen from the front, with a white triangle flap folded down over the front and an oval opening at the top.
The finished project.

Origami · folding only

Folded Paper Cup

  • Starter (level 1 of 5)
  • 5 min
  • 6 steps
  • Ages 5–9 (a guide, not a rule)
  • No scissors
  • No glue
  • No adult help needed
Start Making Print

This classic cup is folded from a single square, with no scissors or glue. Two corners cross over to lock the sides, and two flaps fold down so the cup can open. It is a paper model for pretend play, holding pompoms, buttons or a tiny toy. It is not for drinks or food.

Before you start

You need

Decorating (optional): Draw stripes or dots on the front before you open the cup.

No square of origami paper? No origami paper? Fold the corner of a printer sheet over to the opposite edge, then tear off the extra strip along a sharp crease to make a square.

This cup is a paper model for pretend play. It is not for drinks or food, and it does not hold water.

How to place the paper before the first step
Your paper: Put the square down like a diamond, with one corner pointing up and the white side facing up.
  • Valley fold: blue dashes. Fold toward you, like a valley.
  • Mountain fold: pink dash-dot. Fold away from you, like a mountain.

Step by step

Each step shows what to do (left) and how it should look after (right).

  1. Step 1: valley fold, shown on the paper Do this
    Step 1 result Result
    Step 1 of 6 Valley fold Fold the bottom corner up to the top corner to make a triangle. Press the fold flat.
  2. Step 2: valley fold, shown on the paper Do this
    Step 2 result Result
    Step 2 of 6 Valley fold Fold the left corner across so its tip touches the right edge. Keep the top of the flap level.
  3. Step 3: valley fold, shown on the paper Do this
    Step 3 result Result
    Step 3 of 6 Valley fold Fold the right corner across to the left edge the same way.
  4. Step 4: valley fold, shown on the paper Do this
    Step 4 result Result
    Step 4 of 6 Valley fold Fold the front top flap down over the cup.
  5. Step 5: mountain fold, shown on the paper Do this
    Step 5 result Result
    Step 5 of 6 Mountain fold Fold the back top flap down behind the cup.
  6. Step 6: open, shown on the paper Do this
    Step 6 result Result
    Step 6 of 6 Open Gently squeeze the two sides toward each other to open your cup.
An opened pink origami cup seen from the front, with a white triangle flap folded down over the front and an oval opening at the top.

You made it!

Yours may look a little different. That is part of making things by hand.

Print the steps

If something goes wrong

The top of the cup is not straight.

When you fold each corner across, slide the tip along the edge until the top of the flap is level, then press.

The top flaps keep popping up.

Press them flat hard, or tuck the front one into the pocket of the front flap underneath it.

The cup will not open.

Push the two side corners toward each other gently and blow softly into the top.

Helpful hints

  • Make the first triangle neat: everything else lines up with it.
  • The two corner flaps should meet the edges at the same height.
  • Your cup can hold small, dry things like pompoms or paper clips.

The traditional folded paper cup, a widely taught beginner model. Diagrams drawn for PlayOwl.

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