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PlayOwl
A blue paper boat seen from the side, with a pointed sail in the middle and a white stripe along the bottom.
The finished project.

Origami · folding only

Paper Boat

  • Easy (level 2 of 5)
  • 15 min
  • 13 steps
  • Ages 6–10 (a guide, not a rule)
  • No scissors
  • No glue
  • No adult help needed
Start Making Print

The classic paper boat starts as a paper hat. Fold the hat, open it into a diamond, fold it into a triangle, open it again, then pull the two top points apart: a boat with a sail in the middle appears. It is a paper model. If you float it, the paper soon soaks up water and goes soft.

Before you start

You need

Decorating (optional): Draw portholes, waves or a flag on the boat after you finish.

No sheet of printer paper (letter or a4)? A page of newspaper makes a bigger boat. Fold it the same way.

This is a paper model, not a waterproof toy. If you float it, use a shallow tray of water with a grown-up nearby. The paper soaks up water and goes soft.

How to place the paper before the first step
Your paper: Lay the paper down tall, with the short edges at the top and bottom and the white side facing up.
  • Valley fold: blue dashes. Fold toward you, like a valley.
  • Crease: a thin gray line where you folded before.
  • Turn over: flip the whole model to its other side.

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 13 Valley fold Fold the top edge down to the bottom edge. Press the fold flat.
  2. Step 2: fold and unfold, shown on the paper Do this
    Step 2 result Result
    Step 2 of 13 Fold and unfold Fold the paper in half from side to side, then open it again. Now there is a crease down the middle. (The folded paper is shown bigger from here on. It has not turned.)
  3. Step 3: valley fold, shown on the paper Do this
    Step 3 result Result
    Step 3 of 13 Valley fold Fold the top left corner down so its top edge lies along the middle crease.
  4. Step 4: valley fold, shown on the paper Do this
    Step 4 result Result
    Step 4 of 13 Valley fold Fold the top right corner down the same way. The two corners meet in the middle.
  5. Step 5: valley fold, shown on the paper Do this
    Step 5 result Result
    Step 5 of 13 Valley fold Fold the bottom strip of the top layer up over the corners.
  6. Step 6: turn over, shown on the paper Do this
    Step 6 result Result
    Step 6 of 13 Turn over Turn the paper over from left to right.
  7. Step 7: valley fold, shown on the paper Do this
    Step 7 result Result
    Step 7 of 13 Valley fold Fold the other bottom strip up the same way. You have made a paper hat.
  8. Step 8: squash fold, shown on the paper Do this
    Step 8 result Result
    Step 8 of 13 Squash fold Open the bottom of the hat and bring the two side corners together. Press it flat into a diamond.
  9. Step 9: valley fold, shown on the paper Do this
    Step 9 result Result
    Step 9 of 13 Valley fold Fold the bottom corner of the top layers up to the top corner.
  10. Step 10: turn over, shown on the paper Do this
    Step 10 result Result
    Step 10 of 13 Turn over Turn the paper over again, from left to right.
  11. Step 11: valley fold, shown on the paper Do this
    Step 11 result Result
    Step 11 of 13 Valley fold Fold this bottom corner up to the top corner too. Now you have a triangle.
  12. Step 12: squash fold, shown on the paper Do this
    Step 12 result Result
    Step 12 of 13 Squash fold Open the bottom again and bring the two side corners together. Press it flat into a smaller diamond.
  13. Step 13: pull, shown on the paper Do this
    Step 13 result Result
    Step 13 of 13 Pull Pinch the two loose top points, one in each hand. Pull them gently apart, and the boat opens with a sail in the middle.
A blue paper boat seen from the side, with a pointed sail in the middle and a white stripe along the bottom.

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 hat will not open into a diamond.

Open the bottom wide with your thumbs first, then press the two side corners together until the paper lies flat.

The paper tears when you pull the boat open.

Crease every fold sharply first, then pull slowly, a little at a time.

The boat tips over.

Press along the bottom and open the sides a little wider so the boat has a flat base.

Helpful hints

  • Make every crease sharp with your fingernail. The boat opens much more easily.
  • When a step says open, go slowly and let the creases guide the paper.

The traditional paper boat, folded from the paper hat. Diagrams drawn for PlayOwl.

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