How to Fold an Origami Heart: Quick & Easy Instructions

Origami is the enjoyable art of paper folding. A heart shape is a fairly simple yet effective shape to fold, and the result can be used as a Valentine's Day gift or decoration, a romantic token or to decorate anything you're making in paper craft.

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Creating the Pyramid

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1
Get a letter-size (or A4) piece of paper. You can also use a square 6” x 6” (15 cm x 15 cm) piece of origami paper. Thinner paper is preferable as thicker paper is harder to work with and doesn't always stay folded.^{[1]
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- Avoid using small pieces of paper on your first try, as the folds will be more difficult to make and this may be frustrating. If you'd like to make a larger sized heart, use a larger piece of paper.
- If you decide to draw a design, split it in half; it will end up in the center of the heart. A decoration can be added when the heart is finished as well.
2
Turn the paper to the side that is white. Then, fold the top right corner downwards so that it meets the left side of the paper. Unfold it, and do the same thing to the opposite corner; do not unfold.
- If you are using A4 paper as opposed to origami paper (which has a white side), don't worry about turning the paper to the side that is white.
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3
Fold the bottom part of the paper in half. Do this so that the white (or inside part of the paper) doesn't show anymore.
- Make sharp folds by sliding your nail over each fold. Neat, sharp folds will make your final product look better.
You should now have two diagonal creases on the paper.
Fold the top part down horizontally, so that the fold crosses the intersection in the middle of the paper. Then, unfold it.
6
Turn the paper over again. Take the left and right sides of the paper (where the horizontal crease is) and pull them toward the center of the paper. As you pull them, the other two creases should be folding, too. Pull the two sides inwards so they touch.^{[2]
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- It can take several tries to create the pyramid shape, especially if you are new to origami. You should end up with what looks like a triangle sitting on top of the rectangular portion at the bottom.

Part 2

Part 2 of 3:

Building the Diamond

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Only fold the top layer, not both layers of paper. Make the same fold on the other side; you should now have a diamond shape.
Grab the left side of the paper, and fold everything that's not part of the diamond you made in the previous step toward the center. Do the same for the other side.
Fold the entire thing in half vertically, then unfold it and turn it over.
Take the two bottom corners and fold them upwards, so they meet at the center. Fold them so that what was once the bottom edge lines up with the vertical line running down the center.^{[3]
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Fold the large triangular flap at the top downward, as far as it can go before running into a horizontal line. At the top there should now be three individual flaps, two small ones and a big one. Fold the big one down.

Part 3

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Finishing Off

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Tuck the two corners that you folded up from the bottom into the space inside the triangular flap.
Fold the two remaining top flaps downwards at an angle.^{[4]
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Tuck the corners of those flaps into the space in the big flap.
You should now have an origami heart.

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Is there a specific type of paper that I should use?

Robert Homayoon
Origami Expert
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.

Robert Homayoon

Origami Expert

Expert Answer

Origami paper, designed specifically for origami, has a thinner consistency than printer paper, making it an excellent option if you have it on hand. However, if origami paper is not accessible, using printer paper is a viable alternative. The beauty of origami lies in its simplicity, transforming a piece of paper into a work of art with minimal materials.

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Can you decorate the paper before you start making the heart?

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Yes.

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Can I use note paper?

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Yes. You could use any paper you are able to fold.

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Try writing a note on the "inside," and follow the instructions above to hide it.

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We would recommend doing it on scrap before, because a step may go wrong and you will have more practice.

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Practice. If you are new to origami, this project can be hard, and you may not get it on the first try.

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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.

If you want to hang your hearts, punch holes near the edges of your hearts and then weave a string through the holes.
If you don't have origami paper, use thin paper that's easy to fold, such as loose leaf or tracing paper.
For a cute gift, make a bunch of mini origami hearts and place them in a small jar.
Use printed or brightly-colored paper to create fun and festive hearts.

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Warnings

Beware of paper cuts!

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Things You'll Need

A rectangular piece of paper (8.5" by 11"/22cm x 28cm letter size, or A4 or a 6” x 6” piece of origami paper
Drawing Utensils (Markers, Crayons, Color Pencils) (Optional)