How to Make a Paper Boat

Co-authored by Robert Homayoon

Last Updated: November 10, 2023 Fact Checked

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Making an origami paper boat is a great activity that’s easy to finish and doesn’t require a lot of materials. The beauty of making a paper boat is that you only need one piece of printer paper to complete the task! By folding the paper with sharp creases and shaping it carefully, you can make a great-looking origami boat in minutes. We'll walk you through folding your own paper boat with our complete step-by-step instructions.

Part 1

Part 1 of 2:

Creating the Initial Folds

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1
Fold an 8 ½ in x 11 in (21.5 cm x 28 cm) sheet of paper in half. Lay the paper down vertically and fold it from left to right so that its corners meet up. You can use ordinary white printer paper, construction paper, or origami paper. This is called folding the paper "hot dog style." Make a neat crease along the paper.^{[1]
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- To strengthen the crease, run your finger down the fold 3-4 more times.
2
Unfold the paper, rotate it 90 degrees, and fold it in half again. At this point, the paper should be lying down horizontally. Once you’ve adjusted the paper, fold from left to right. This "hamburger style" fold will create a new crease in the center of the page.^{[2]
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- You should now have 2 creases along both centers (x-axis and y-axis) of the page.
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3
Flip the paper so that the fold opens toward you. Then, fold down the top corners towards the middle of the paper while leaving 1-2 in (2.5-5 cm) of space at the bottom. Make sure the folds line up with the center crease. Crease along the edges to secure the folds.^{[3]
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- Use the crease you made before to help line up the folds coming in from the corners.
4
Bring the bottom of the paper up to fold it against both sides. Grab the flap at the bottom of the paper and fold it up against the bottom of the 2 folded triangles. Turn the paper over and do the same thing to the flap on that side. This will make a paper hat.^{[4]
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- The 2 folds should line up with each other.
Tip: When you go to fold the second side, use the first fold as a reference point.
5
Take the bottom corners and fold them in. On 1 side of the paper, grab the corners of the rectangle that are sticking out over the triangle. Wrap these parts of the paper around the edges of the triangle and crease them so that they stay wrapped around the edge of the triangle. Then, fold the bottom flaps around the edges of the triangle and back towards you.^{[5]
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- The flaps closest to you should be folded in front of the back flaps, not over them. If you fold over the back flaps, you won’t be able to fold the back flaps themselves.

Part 2

Part 2 of 2:

Making the Final Folds

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1
Make the triangle into a square. Pick up the triangle, rotate it 45 degrees, then use your fingers to open up the bottom of the triangle. Pull the paper apart gently until it pops into a square shape. Make sure the bottom corners of the triangle fold over each other and become the bottom corner of a diamond.^{[6]
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- Crease the paper along its edges so that it stays in the square shape.
2
Fold up the bottom flaps. Arrange your paper so that the bottom points of the diamond can fold upward. Fold up 1 corner, aligning it with the top corner. Then, flip the paper over and do the same thing to the other side.^{[7]
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- The bottom of the diamond should be the part of the paper with extra folds.
3
Construct the triangle into a square again. Just like last time, pick up the triangle, rotate it 45 degrees, then open up the bottom of your new triangle with your fingers. Crease the paper along its edges so that it stays in the square shape.^{[8]
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- The bottom corners will line up to become the bottom point of a square diamond.
4
Pull out the triangles on the side of the square. Start at the top of the diamond, and gently pull the two sides apart so that the seam running down the middle of the diamond blooms. Crease the bottom of the folded out sides to make the boat a bit stronger.^{[9]
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- You may need to pull up the triangle inside the diamond while pulling apart the two sides. Try to keep the triangle inside the diamond sticking straight up as this will be your boat's "mast."
5
Float your origami boat. Fill a small tub with water and place the boat on the water. If it starts to droop a little, keep making small adjustments to keep the sides up and prevent the boat from sinking.^{[10]
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- You can reinforce the corners with clear tape and tape around the bottom to keep your boat dry.
Tip: Waterproof your boat! Use a waxed paper from an art store to make your boat last longer, or color one side of the paper completely with a crayon. You can also try to make your boat out of aluminum foil.

Expert Q&A

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Question

Can I use heavy paper for origami folding?

Robert Homayoon
Origami Expert
Robert Homayoon is an Origami Expert known for his engaging YouTube videos and accessible instructions. He has been teaching origami on YouTube since 2009. His channel has a following of over 676,000 subscribers, and his videos have garnered over 211 million views. Robert uses his channel to highlight his passion for teaching people origami, crafts, and how to solve puzzles. He graduated from SUNY Albany in 2007 and earned his D.M.D degree from Temple University Dental School in 2013.

Robert Homayoon

Origami Expert

Expert Answer

A heavier paper typically implies greater thickness, often measured in grams per square meter (GSM). Depending on the specific model of origami and the desired outcome, using thicker or sticker paper can present challenges in folding. For instance, when teaching how to make an origami boomerang, I recommend a certain GSM, approximately 100, and include this advice in my instructions. In general, it holds true that heavier paper can be more difficult to fold, particularly if the model involves numerous folds layered on top of each other, making the paper denser and harder to manipulate.

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Can I use a sheet of aluminum foil?

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Yes, and it won't sink as quickly, since it'll be waterproofed.

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Can you put things in your boat?

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Yes, but not too many things, and not things that are too heavy or too big.

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Tips

If you are floating your boat on a large body of water, like a pond, you can tape string onto one end of the boat. Hold on to the other end of the string so that it doesn't float away!

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Try to get the edges of the paper to line up. An evenly made boat means less chances of tipping over.

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If you are making a tiny boat, don’t float it on a big body of water. You may lose it!

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If you don't have specialty supplies like wax paper or crayons, no need to fret. You likely already have the tools to waterproof your delicate paper boat right at home. Simply construct two separate boats out of ordinary printer or construction paper. Then, gently place one inside the other, nesting them together into a double-walled vessel. This should reinforce them to better withstand water without getting too soggy. Though, test float gently, as the extra weight could cause sinking if the little boat gets overburdened.
Missing wax paper for true waterproofing? Simply equip your artist's toolkit by raiding the crayon bin! Thoroughly color one whole side of the boat with thick crayon before setting it afloat in a pool, pond or puddle. The waxy buildup should act as a shield against light water exposure. Though if embarking on choppier seas, extra reinforcements may still be needed, matey!
Forego the plain printer paper and opt for fun vibrant colors and patterns! Tissue paper can make for a festively hued sail, but be extra delicate as it shreds easily, especially once wet. For best durability, stick to construction paper or card stock to give your boat more sturdiness as you launch it into the open water.

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Warnings

Make sure you don't have any holes, as one little hole can turn into a huge rip. This could be good in a procedural text.

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