How to Make a Paper Popper

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Last Updated: December 9, 2024 Fact Checked

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A paper popper is perfect for scaring or pranking your siblings and friends. By folding a piece of paper correctly, you can create air pockets that will make a loud popping sound if you snap the paper down using the right technique. All you need is one piece of paper and some wrist power, and soon you'll have a popper of your very own!

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Making a Regular Popper

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1
Use an 8.5 by 11 in (22 by 28 cm) sheet of printer paper. If you don't have printer paper handy, you can also tear a piece of paper out of your notebook.
- A standard piece of A4 printer paper, 8.5 by 11 inches (22 by 28 cm) in size works best, but you can use larger or smaller paper if you wish. Just make sure you are using rectangular paper.
- Notebook paper will not be as sturdy as printer paper and won't make as loud of a noise, but still works well.
- The paper doesn't have to be this exact size, but it's a good size to start with as it is easier to fold.
- Lay the paper flat so the longer sides are on the top and bottom.
2
Fold the bottom fourth of your paper up. Fold about 2.5 inches (6.4 cm) of the paper up on a horizontal fold and then apply a crease.^{[1]
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- Fold the paper away from you, toward the top.
- Run your finger along the bottom edge to create the crease and keep the fold in place.
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3
Fold another 2.5 inches (64 mm) of the paper up. When you're finished, you should have 1 inch (25 mm) of unfolded paper remaining.^{[2]
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- If you have a little more or less than 1 inch (2.5 cm), that's okay too.
4
Flip your paper over and fold it in half. You want to flip your paper so that the unfolded portion is now on the bottom, closest to you. Then fold the paper in half on a vertical crease.
- When you make this fold, the folded part, or bar, should be visible again.
- You will now have a square shape with your folds on the outside.
5
Grab the popper at the back tip of the folded bar on the top of your paper. Find the folded edge of your top bar (the part of the paper you folded up earlier) and pinch it with one hand. Then grab the bottom corner with your other hand. Pull the bar up and out as you push the unfolded portion of paper in and down in the opposite direction.^{[3]
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- You will now see that you’ve created two open loops, or pockets, from the folded bar. Pinch the bottom corners of your looped paper.
6
Make sure you’re not pinching any of the unfolded portions of the paper. You shouldn't pinch the paper too hard. Don't hold down the unfolded part in the middle, or you won't be able to snap it. You can think of this as a bit like holding a paper airplane upside-down.
- Look through the outside of the popper inward. You should have created two almost diamond-shaped air pockets.
- When you're snapping the popper open, you'll be releasing the unfolded section of paper. Make sure you're not holding the bottom edge of the unfolded paper and that it has freedom to move.
- For extra noise, you can try to stretch out and open the air pockets a bit to take in as much air as possible.
7
Snap the popper down. Raise your arm and then bring it down like you're cracking a whip or bouncing a ball.^{[4]
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- The air pockets should whip out, creating a cracking sound. You can snap the paper down on a desk, or just snap it in the air.
- As you bring your arm down, snap your wrist down as well to give it extra force.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Making an Origami Popper

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1
Get a piece of 8.5 by 11 in (22 by 28 cm) printer paper. To make this popper will need a sheet of rectangular paper. Any standard 8.5 by 11 in (22 by 28 cm) sheet of paper works well.^{[5]
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- A standard piece of A4 printer paper, 8.5 by 11 inches (22 by 28 cm) in size works best, but you can use larger or smaller paper if you wish. Just make sure you are using rectangular paper.
- You can also use notebook paper. Notebook paper won’t be quite as loud because it’s not as heavy, but will still work fine.
- Place your paper on a table so that the longer sides are on the top and bottom.
2
Create creases on the paper to use as guides. Fold the paper in half lengthwise on a horizontal crease then unfold it. Now fold it in half widthwise on a vertical crease and unfold it again.^{[6]
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- At this point, you should have four creases in your paper, both vertically and horizontally. The creases will look like a cross.
3
Fold each corner of the paper inward. The edge of your folds should line up with the horizontal crease.^{[7]
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- When you are done with these four folds, there should be two triangles on either side of the paper.
- Think of folding each corner down like you would for a paper airplane.
- You will have a vertical, open section of unfolded paper in the middle between your folds.
4
Fold the popper in half to create a trapezoid shape. You now want to fold the paper in half along the horizontal crease.^{[8]
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- The popper should now look like a trapezoid or a triangle shape with the tip cut off.
5
Fold up the left and right corners. Position your paper so that the longer flat edge is facing down closer to you. Take the bottom two corners on the left and right side and fold upward.^{[9]
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- Make sure to line the edges up with the vertical crease.
- This should create two triangular flaps which meet in the center and together make a diamond.
6
Finish your popper. Flip the paper over and fold it in half on the vertical crease.^{[10]
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- Once you have done this, the popper should be in the shape of a triangle with the two flaps on the outside.
7
Pop your paper popper. Hold the bottom corners of the popper between your thumb and index finger. Raise your arm above your head, and quickly snap it down to create the popping sound.^{[11]
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- You may need to pull the inner folds of your paper out a little to get the paper to pop the first time if your paper is stiff.
- Tuck back in the flap that comes out to make the noise again.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Making an Alternative Paper Popper

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1
Use an 8.5 by 11 in (22 by 28 cm) sheet of printer paper. Lay the paper flat on a table and position so the longer sides are on the top and bottom.^{[12]
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Research source}
- A standard piece of A4 printer paper, 8.5 by 11 inches (22 by 28 cm) in size works best, but you can use larger or smaller paper if you wish. Just make sure you are using rectangular paper.
- Regular notebook paper also works well, but may not be as loud as it's thinner than printer paper.
2
Fold the paper in half lengthwise on a horizontal crease. Take the bottom edge of your paper and bring it up to meet the top edge.^{[13]
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- Run your finger along the bottom folded edge to create a crease.
3
Fold the paper in half again. This time, fold your paper in half widthwise on a vertical crease.^{[14]
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- Take the right edge of your paper and bring it over to meet the left edge.
- Run your finger along the crease to keep your folds in place.
4
Pinch the two inner flaps on the bottom of your paper with one hand. You will have four flaps of paper on the bottom which were created by your folds. Pinch the two inner flaps.
- The top of your paper will have two edges created by your folds. On the bottom of your paper, you will see two outer flaps and two inner flaps.
5
Pinch the two outer flaps with your other hand. Pull the inner flaps upward while keeping the outer flaps in place with your other hand.
- You will now see two loops, or cone shapes, which were created by pushing the inner flaps upward.
- Keep the inner flaps held in place by pinching the outer flaps toward the middle the paper.
- Make sure you're not pinching any parts of the inner flaps as the cones you’ve created will flap out when you throw down your popper and make the noise.
6
Pop your popper. Raise your arm up holding your popper and throw it down like you would if you were cracking a whip or bouncing a ball on the ground.
- Snap your wrist down as you bring your arm down to help the inner flaps pop out.

Community Q&A

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Question

How can I make it loud every time?

Community Answer

Snap it down as hard as you can. Don't do it too often, or it will rip and you won't be able to use it anymore.

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Question

Why isn’t my paper popper popping?

Community Answer

Either you ripped it, or folded it wrong. Try making it again.

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Question

Which one is the loudest?

Community Answer

The last one. A bigger space inside of the paper will cause more air to be caught, meaning a louder pop.

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Tips

Make sure to snap your wrist down when throwing your popper to get a louder sound.

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Helpful 11 Not Helpful 2
Try using different papers like colored construction paper. Or paper with different textures to see if you can get more sounds.

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Helpful 7 Not Helpful 4
Feel free to decorate your popper and make it unique.

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Helpful 5 Not Helpful 8

Tips from our Readers

The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.

When customizing with markers, make sure you don't soak the page. Too much ink can ruin the sound of the pop.
I've found that heavier construction paper makes a louder popping sound than printer paper.

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Warnings

Don't do it in front dogs and cats.

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Helpful 18 Not Helpful 3
The popper can be loud and even sound like a gunshot. Don't use your popper in a quiet place where it might scare people you don't know.

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Helpful 57 Not Helpful 18
Don't throw your popper in class to disrupt your teacher. You may get in trouble.

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Helpful 62 Not Helpful 21
Avoid making a paper popper at an airport, as you could get in trouble with airport security.

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Helpful 14 Not Helpful 2