How to Fold an Origami Crane

Medium level, 25 steps. Traditional. Earliest record: Tokiwa Hinagata, 1700.

The animated version shows each fold moving, one step per screen. This page shows every step at once.

All 25 steps

Step 1. Start white side up. Fold the top corner down to the bottom corner.
Step 2. Fold the left corner over to the right corner.
Step 3. Lift the top flap, open it, and squash it flat into a square.
Step 4. Turn the paper over.
Step 5. Squash this flap into a square to match.
Step 6. Fold the lower left edge of the top layer to the center line, then unfold.
Step 7. Fold the lower right edge to the center line, then unfold.
Step 8. Fold the top triangle down over them, then unfold.
Step 9. Lift the bottom corner of the top layer up along the crease. The sides fold in to meet at the center.
Step 10. Turn the paper over.
Step 11. Fold the lower edges to the center line, then unfold.
Step 12. Fold the other lower edge to the center line, then unfold.
Step 13. Fold the top triangle down, then unfold.
Step 14. Petal fold this side the same way.
Step 15. Fold the lower left edge of the top layer to the center line.
Step 16. Fold the lower right edge to the center line.
Step 17. Turn the paper over.
Step 18. Fold the lower left edge of the top layer to the center line.
Step 19. Fold the lower right edge to the center line.
Step 20. Inside reverse fold the left point up between the layers to make the neck.
Step 21. Inside reverse fold the right point up to make the tail.
Step 22. Inside reverse fold the tip of the neck down to make the head.
Step 23. Fold the front wing down.
Step 24. Fold the back wing down behind.
Step 25. Gently pull the wings apart.
Done. This is the traditional crane.