PDF download Download Article PDF download Download Article

Origami, the Japanese art of paper-folding, dates back centuries. Origami creations range from simple and delightful to complex and astounding. Origami butterflies are an easy beginner project, making them a perfect children's activity. All you need is a piece of square paper, and with a few folds, you'll have an ethereal paper creature! Give your butterfly as a present, attach one to gift wrapping, or simply use it to brighten up a room.

Part 1
Part 1 of 3:

Making the Origami Boat Base

PDF download Download Article
  1. If you are using origami paper, there is one side that is shiny and/or decorated – this is the right side. Lay the paper right-side down.
    • A 6 x 6 inch (15 x 15 cm) square is a good size for beginners. If you want to create larger or smaller butterflies, adjust your paper size accordingly.
  2. Watermark wikiHow to Make a Butterfly Origami
    Match the paper's lower edge to the upper edge and smooth the crease with your fingers, starting from the center and working your way out. Unfold the paper so the crease remains.
    • In the valley fold, you fold the paper over the crease, so that the sides of the paper that were facing up are now folded in on each other. The resulting crease is "under" the folded sides, hence the name "valley."
    Advertisement
  3. Watermark wikiHow to Make a Butterfly Origami
    Match the right edge to the left edge and crease with your fingers, then unfold.
    • Steps 2 and 3 are combined in this video.
    • Now you should have two valley creases: one running horizontally and one vertically through the center.
  4. Watermark wikiHow to Make a Butterfly Origami
    Turn the paper counterclockwise so that what was the lower left corner now points downwards towards you.
  5. Watermark wikiHow to Make a Butterfly Origami
    Carefully bring the lower corner to the upper corner, crease, and unfold.
  6. Watermark wikiHow to Make a Butterfly Origami
    Bring the right corner over to the left corner, crease, and unfold.
    • Steps 5 and 6 are shown in the video.
  7. Watermark wikiHow to Make a Butterfly Origami
    Turn the paper clockwise or counterclockwise so that an edge (rather than a corner) is facing you.
    • There should be four valley creases though the center: a vertical, a horizontal, and two diagonal.
  8. Watermark wikiHow to Make a Butterfly Origami
    Align the right edge of the paper with the middle vertical crease and make a fold. Repeat with the left side.
    • Do not unfold these creases.
    • This is called a "gate fold."
  9. Watermark wikiHow to Make a Butterfly Origami
    Insert your thumb and middle finger under the folded corners, holding the bottom half of the paper securely in place with your other hand.
  10. Watermark wikiHow to Make a Butterfly Origami
    Align the upper edge with the horizontal crease in the middle of the model. At the same time, open the flaps that you pinched in the previous step, pulling them apart and down until the top of the model meets the center crease.
    • Now the upper half of the model should look like a roof on a house.
  11. Watermark wikiHow to Make a Butterfly Origami
    Now the "roof" is upside-down, facing you.
  12. Watermark wikiHow to Make a Butterfly Origami
    When you finish, you'll have what's called an origami "boat base," a starting point for many different creations.[1]
  13. Advertisement
Part 2
Part 2 of 3:

Making the Wings

PDF download Download Article
  1. Watermark wikiHow to Make a Butterfly Origami
    The folded edges you made in the last step should now be face-down. The corners of the "boat" should be pointing to the sides, with the two long edges extending horizontally along the top and bottom of the model.
  2. Watermark wikiHow to Make a Butterfly Origami
    Join the upper edge to the lower edge and smooth the valley fold with your fingers.
  3. Watermark wikiHow to Make a Butterfly Origami
    Holding the trapezoid-shaped model so the long edge is at the top (as at the end of Step 2), lift the top right corner and bring it downwards toward the model's vertical axis. Crease the fold with your fingers.
    • The flap's corner should now be pointing downwards towards you.
    • Note that the right corner has multiple layers: you are folding down only the top one.
  4. Watermark wikiHow to Make a Butterfly Origami
    When you finish, both corners will be pointing down towards you.
  5. Watermark wikiHow to Make a Butterfly Origami
    Examine the left flap you've just folded down, noticing the mountain fold (upward-facing fold) running diagonally from the central vertical axis and ending in a side corner. Lift the side corner slightly, moving it inwards and upwards toward the center (but not all the way). Smooth the fold with your fingers.
    • The fold should extend all the way from the upper edge of the model to about halfway between the corner you're lifting and the flap's lower point.
  6. Watermark wikiHow to Make a Butterfly Origami
    Because there are no guiding creases for these folds, take care to make the left and right folds even.
    • The video shows Steps 6 and 7.
  7. Watermark wikiHow to Make a Butterfly Origami
    The folds you've just made should now be face-down to the working surface, with the flaps still pointing downwards towards you.
  8. Watermark wikiHow to Make a Butterfly Origami
    Bring the left corner over to the right and reinforce the crease with your fingers.
  9. Advertisement
Part 3
Part 3 of 3:

Shaping the Body

PDF download Download Article
  1. Watermark wikiHow to Make a Butterfly Origami
    Lift the upper "wing" (which is currently extending straight out to the right) and bring it backwards (to the left), creating a fold that starts about 1/2 inch (1 cm) from the left corner of the upper edge and extends diagonally to the lower left corner of the upper flap. Crease with your fingers and then unfold.
  2. Watermark wikiHow to Make a Butterfly Origami
    Now the wing tips should be pointing left, and the crease you've just made is face-down on the working surface.
  3. Watermark wikiHow to Make a Butterfly Origami
    This time, bring it up and back towards the right. Create a fold that starts 1/2 inch (1 cm) from the right corner of the upper edge and extends down and right to the lower right corner of the upper flap. Crease and unfold.
  4. Watermark wikiHow to Make a Butterfly Origami
    Orient the model so that the central vertical fold is "mountain," or upwards-facing.[2]
  5. Watermark wikiHow to Make a Butterfly Origami
    This is the body of the butterfly.
    • Push the wings back along the creases to reinforce the folds.
  6. Try making more in different colors and sizes.
  7. Advertisement


Community Q&A

Search
Add New Question
  • Question
    How small or big does the paper have to be?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    You can use any size paper. It depends on how big or small you want the butterfly.
  • Question
    Is it easy to make a paper butterfly?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    This paper butterfly is suitable for intermediate origami skill levels.
  • Question
    Can I use cardboard?
    R8118
    R8118
    Community Answer
    No. Cardboard is too thick to fold. Use something like origami paper, a post-it, or cut a square out of A4 paper. Make sure it is thin and easy to work with.
See more answers
Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
Advertisement

Tips

Submit a Tip
All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
Name
Please provide your name and last initial
Thanks for submitting a tip for review!

Things You'll Need

  • Origami paper

Expert Interview

Thanks for reading our article! If you’d like to learn more about origami, check out our in-depth interview with Robert Homayoon.

About This Article

Robert Homayoon
Co-authored by:
Origami Expert
This article was co-authored by Robert Homayoon. 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. This article has been viewed 650,509 times.
13 votes - 72%
Co-authors: 43
Updated: November 10, 2023
Views: 650,509
Categories: Animal Origami
Article SummaryX

To make butterfly origami, you’ll need a square piece of paper. To start, fold and crease it in half horizontally, vertically, and diagonally, unfolding after each fold. Fold the top and bottom sides to meet at the center crease. Then, rotate the paper clockwise and fold the top and bottom sides to the center to make a square. Unfold the top flap and fold the top edge down into a roof shape. Repeat this for the bottom flap. After creasing and folding your paper into a boat base, flip the model over and fold it up in half. Lift the right corner and fold it up and then repeat on the left side. Now, rotate the triangle shape you've just created 180°. Lift the right and left inner flaps and fold them towards half-way the center. Then, fold the model in half. Fold the upper wings down diagonally to create its body on both sides, and your butterfly is done!

Did this summary help you?

Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 650,509 times.

Reader Success Stories

  • Fakiha Khan

    Fakiha Khan

    Nov 24, 2017

    "I cut the wings in a round shape, that looks so good, too. Thank you so much for this article."
Share your story

Did this article help you?

Advertisement