Traditional Origami Crane Paper Folding

Origami paper or square-cut copy paper — 6 by 6 inches is the standard size

A flat, clean surface for precise folding

Start with a square piece of paper, colored or patterned side down.

Fold in half diagonally both ways and in half horizontally both ways. Press each crease firmly and unfold completely. You now have a grid of creases.

Collapse the paper into a preliminary base (square base) — fold into a small diamond shape using the creases as guides.

With the open end pointing down, fold the front side edges inward to meet the center crease. Unfold, then petal-fold — lift the bottom point upward using the creases you just made, flattening into a long diamond.

Flip the whole piece over and repeat the petal fold on the back. You now have a bird base — a narrow diamond shape.

Fold the two lower points upward inside the model to create the neck and tail. These are inside reverse folds.

On the neck point, make another small reverse fold downward to form the head and beak.

Gently pull the wings apart and push down on the top to inflate the body slightly. Your crane is complete.

Precision matters with every fold. The better aligned each crease is, the cleaner the final crane looks. Take your time.

The petal fold is the hardest step. Practice it separately on scrap paper before attempting the full crane.

Use larger paper (8 by 8 inches) for your first attempts. It is easier to handle. Move to smaller paper as skill improves.

In Japanese tradition, folding 1000 cranes (senbazuru) grants a wish. Set a goal — even 10 cranes strung on a thread makes a beautiful decoration.

This is one of the most satisfying skills to master. The moment a flat piece of paper becomes a 3D bird feels genuinely magical, no matter how many times you do it.