The origami crane is perhaps the most recognised paper fold in the world. In Japanese culture, the crane (tsuru) is a symbol of longevity, good fortune, and peace — rooted in the legend that folding one thousand cranes (senbazuru) grants the maker a single wish. Today, origami cranes are folded for celebrations, as tokens of care, and as meditative creative practice. In this complete guide, you will learn every fold with clear, numbered steps so you can produce a beautiful crane on your very first attempt. If you enjoy working with paper, our full Paper Crafts category has dozens more folding and cutting projects to explore.
What You Will Need
- One square sheet of origami paper — 15 × 15 cm (6 × 6 inches) is ideal for beginners
- A clean, flat, hard surface to work on
- A bone folder or your fingernail for crisp creases (optional but helpful)
Traditional origami paper (called kami) is thin, holds creases crisply, and comes in a huge range of colours and patterns. If you do not have origami paper, a single sheet of plain printer paper cut into a square works perfectly. Not sure how to calculate the square? Use our Measurement Converter to confirm your dimensions in both cm and inches before cutting.
Project Info
- Difficulty: Beginner to Intermediate
- Time: 15–20 minutes for your first crane; under 5 minutes once you have practised
- Cost: Under $1 per sheet
Step 1: Start with a Square, Colour Side Down
Lay your paper on a flat surface with the coloured or patterned side facing down. You are working on the plain (white) side for the initial folds. Take your time with each crease — the precision of your early folds determines how clean the finished crane looks.
Step 2: Fold in Half Diagonally — Both Ways
Fold the paper in half diagonally, corner to corner, to form a triangle. Crease firmly, then unfold. Rotate 90 degrees and fold diagonally again to form a triangle in the other direction. Crease firmly and unfold. You now have two diagonal crease lines crossing in the centre of the square.
Step 3: Fold in Half Horizontally and Vertically
Turn the paper over so the coloured side faces up. Fold in half horizontally (top edge to bottom edge). Crease and unfold. Fold in half vertically (left edge to right edge). Crease and unfold. You now have four crease lines: two diagonal and two straight.
Step 4: Collapse to a Preliminary Base
Hold the paper with the coloured side up. Push the two side edges inward toward the centre — the paper will naturally collapse along the existing creases into a small square, with the open (four-flap) end at the bottom and the closed tip at the top. This shape is called the preliminary base or square base. Flatten it evenly with the closed tip at the top.
Step 5: Petal Fold the Front
Working on the front layer only: fold the bottom-left and bottom-right edges in to meet the vertical centre line. Crease well. Now fold the top triangular flap down over these folds and crease. Unfold all three of these folds. Lift the front bottom flap upward, opening it along the crease lines you just made, and press it flat — the sides will fold inward naturally. This is the petal fold. Flatten the long diamond shape. Repeat on the back side.
Step 6: Narrow the Shape
Fold the lower-left and lower-right edges of the front diamond in to meet the centre vertical line. Crease firmly. Repeat on the back. You now have a narrow diamond shape with four points: two long ones pointing up, and two short ones pointing down.
Step 7: Form the Head and Tail
Fold one of the lower points upward and inside the model — this is an inside reverse fold. To do this, open the model slightly, fold the point up along the crease line, then re-close the model around it. This creates one of the neck/tail points. Repeat on the other lower point.
Step 8: Shape the Head
Take one of the two long upper points and fold just the very tip downward — again using an inside reverse fold — to create the crane’s head. The beak is a very small fold, just 1–1.5 cm from the tip.
Step 9: Open the Wings
Gently pull the two wing tips apart — the body of the crane will expand and puff slightly. Hold the base of the body and pull the wings slowly and evenly for a full, rounded body. Do not pull too hard or the folds will tear.
Displaying and Using Your Cranes
A single crane makes a beautiful gift topper or gift card embellishment. String a group of cranes on a length of thread at varying heights for a stunning hanging mobile. For the traditional senbazuru (one thousand cranes), fold a crane a day over three years, or make it a group project with friends and family — the completed garland is an extraordinary craft achievement and a meaningful gift for a wedding or recovery from illness.
Use smaller paper (7.5 cm square) for miniature cranes to decorate greeting cards — our Handmade Greeting Cards tutorial has five card techniques that pair beautifully with small origami embellishments. You can also use our Craft Project Planner to track your progress on a senbazuru project.
More Paper Folding Projects
Once you have mastered the crane, try the origami lotus flower, the modular origami cube, or the classic fortune teller (cootie catcher). All are built on the same foundational base folds you have just learned. Explore the full DIY Crafts category for more projects at every skill level.
