Creativity in every crease
Paper boat
Turn a rectangular sheet into a little boat. Follow the diagrams, one fold at a time.
- Super easy
- 11 steps
- About 10 minutes
- 1 rectangular sheet
Paper: One rectangular sheet of regular printer paper.
Your boat is ready!
11
folds from flat sheet to boat
4
creases you make before folding
A4
printer paper works perfectly
0
cuts, glue or tape needed
Before you fold
Every diagram uses the same three marks. Learn them once and the rest of the page reads itself.
Dashed line
Fold along here. The line disappears inside the model once folded.
Curved arrow
Which way the paper travels. A dashed arrow means fold it behind.
Solid arrows
Push here with your fingers while the layers move apart.
Grey and white
Grey is the back of the sheet, white is the side facing you.
Work on a hard, flat table and press each crease with your thumbnail. Sharp creases are what keeps the boat in shape at the end.
Fold your boat
Step 1 of 11
Step 01
Make the centre crease
Start with a rectangular sheet. Fold it in half lengthwise, then unfold it.
You should seeOne crease running from the top edge to the bottom edge, the sheet flat again.
Step 02
Fold in half
Fold the paper in half the other way, bringing the top edge down to the bottom edge.
You should seeA shorter, wider rectangle with the new fold along the top and the centre crease still visible.
Step 03
Fold the top corners
Fold both top corners down to meet the centre crease.
You should seeA triangle across the top with a straight strip of paper left along the bottom.
Step 04
Lift the front flap
Fold the front layer of the bottom strip up along the dashed line.
You should seeThe front strip lying flat over the triangle, one strip still hanging at the back.
Step 05
Fold the back flap
Fold the remaining bottom strip up behind the model.
You should seeA paper hat: a triangle with a band across the bottom on both the front and the back.
Step 06
Open from the bottom
Open the bottom. Push the sides inward while pulling the middle layers apart, towards the front and back.
You should seeThe hat opening up and starting to stand on its point, as if it were becoming a square.
Step 07
Continue opening
This is the fold in progress: keep bringing the sides together as the middle opens.
You should seeA shape halfway between the hat and a flat square. Keep pressing until it lies flat.
Step 08
Flatten into a diamond
Tuck the right flap under the left flap on both sides, then flatten the model.
You should seeA flat diamond with the open edges at the bottom and closed folds along the top.
Step 09
Lift the lower points
Fold the top layer's lower point up along the dashed line. Repeat with the back layer.
You should seeA triangle standing on its base, point up, with both lower flaps folded away.
Step 10
Open again
Open the bottom and push the sides inward, as in step 6, then flatten.
You should seeA smaller flat diamond, the same move as step 6 but one size down.
Step 11
Pull the ends apart
Hold the two upper ends and gently pull them outward to open the boat.
You should seeThe hull opening out, a small sail standing in the middle, and the boat sitting flat on the table.
Use the arrow keys to move between steps
Step 1 of 11: Make the centre crease
Your boat is ready!
Gently open the base so the boat can stand upright. Pinch the two peaks to sharpen them.
Gently open the base so the boat can stand upright.
- If it will not stand
- press the bottom crease flat against the table.
- If it tears at step 6
- open more slowly and work the layers apart with a fingernail.
- To make it float
- rub a candle over the hull, or fold it from waxed paper.