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Up, up, and away! Paper airplanes are a fun, easy way to pass the time—but how exactly do you turn a basic piece of paper into a jet-setting masterpiece? You’ve come to the right place. We’ve put together a handy, step-by-step guide to help you fold your way to a sleek, far-flying paper airplane . Just grab a piece of 8 ½ in (21.5 cm) by 11 in (28 cm) paper (or A4 size Printer or Copy paper) and get folding. In a matter of minutes, you’ll be ready for take-off with the best paper airplane designs!
Steps
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Crease a piece of letter-sized paper in half lengthwise. Get a piece of printer paper that’s a rectangle and lay it on a flat surface. Fold the paper in half lengthwise so the paper looks like a long rectangle. Press crease the fold with your fingernail before unfolding the paper again. [1] X Research source- If you want to make a colored paper airplane, use construction paper instead.
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Bring the top corners toward the center crease. Once the paper is flat again, grab one of the top corners and fold it toward the crease you just made to form a triangle. Press along the fold with your fingernail so the fold stays in place. Repeat the fold along the other top corner so the top of your paper forms a point. [2] X Research source
- Make sure the crease points toward you when you’re folding your paper airplane or else you’ll fold the wrong corners.
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Fold the angled top edges toward the crease again. Grab the new top corner on one side of your paper and fold toward the crease to form a long triangle. Run your fingernail across the fold to secure it in place. Fold the other top corner in the same way so your piece of paper looks like a large triangle. [3] X Research source
Tip: Try using a ruler or a credit card to press the fold down if pressing it with your fingernail doesn’t work.
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Fold the paper along the centerline. Use the first crease you made as a guide for making your next fold. Fold the airplane in half along the crease so the triangles you made are on the inside. Slide your fingernail across the crease so the fold stays in place. [4] X Research source
- This fold creates the bottom of your plane so it’s easier to hold and throw once it’s finished.
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Crease the angled side toward the center fold to create the wings. Bring the angled side of the paper to the fold you just made down the middle. Crease the paper with your knuckle or fingernail. Flip the paper airplane over to create the wing on the other side. Once both sides are creased, unfold them slightly so the plane is flat on top. [5] X Research source
- Make sure your wings are symmetrical to one another so your plane stays level when you throw it.
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Crease an 8 1 ⁄ 2 in × 11 in (22 cm × 28 cm) piece of paper in half lengthwise. Use a piece of printer or construction paper for your paper airplane . Lay the paper on a flat surface and fold it in half lengthwise to create a long rectangle. Press down on the crease with your fingernail before unfolding the paper again. [6] X Research source
- Try using different kinds of paper to add designs and test how it affects your plane.
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Bring the top corners toward the crease in the middle. Grab one of the top corners and fold it into a triangle so the edge lines up with the crease. Flatten the fold using your knuckle or fingernail so it holds in place. Repeat your fold on the other top corner so there’s a point at the top of your paper. [7] X Research source
- Make sure the crease you folded is pointing toward you when you start folding the paper, or else your folds won’t line up.
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Fold the top point down so there’s 1 ⁄ 2 in (1.3 cm) left on the bottom. Grab the top point of your paper and fold it down to hide the triangles you just made. Bring the point down until it’s 1 ⁄ 2 in (1.3 cm) from the bottom of the sheet. Run your knuckle over the fold to secure it in place. Your piece of paper should look like an envelope. [8] X Research source
- Don’t let the point touch the bottom edge of your paper or it will affect the structure of your plane when you’re finished.
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Bring the top corners toward the center. Grab one of the new corners you just made at the top of your paper. Fold the corner over so the edge lines up with the middle crease. Secure your fold by running your knuckle over it. Repeat the fold on the other side so there are 2 triangles. [9] X Research source
- If you want your airplane to have a blunt edge in front instead of a point, fold the top of your paper so only the corners touch the center crease.
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Hold your folds in place by folding the bottom point over them. Crease the point closest to the bottom of your paper so it covers the 2 right angles along the center of your paper. Make sure the fold holds the triangles in place. [10] X Research source
- Your paper should look like a large triangle on top of a narrow rectangle when you're finished.
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Fold the paper in half along the center crease. Fold your plane in half the opposite way as your initial fold. Keep the previous folds you made on the outside so you can still see the triangles. Press along the fold with your knuckle to flatten it. [11] X Research source
- Don’t hide your previous folds inside or else it will affect your plane’s structure.
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Crease the wings down so they line up on the bottom edge. Take the angled edge of the plane and fold it toward the crease you just made. Flip your plane over and repeat the fold on the other side to make the second wing. Unfold the wings so the top of your plane is flat so it can fly easily. [12] X Research source
- Make sure the wings on your plane are the same size so your plane doesn’t fly to one side.
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Fold a piece of paper in half lengthwise. Use ordinary 8 ½ in (21.5 cm) by 11 in (28 cm) printer or A4 paper. Perform a book fold to begin. A book fold is made by folding your paper in half the long way.
- Notebook paper, construction paper, or printer paper all work well.
- For best results, lay your paper on a flat surface like a desk.
- Crease your fold with the edge of your finger, then unfold.
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Fold the top down. Take about two 2 inches (51 mm) at the top of your paper and fold down in a horizontal valley fold.
- Keep the center crease aligned when you fold the top of the paper down toward you.
- Crease the top edge with your finger to keep the flap in place.
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Fold the top portion down again in half. Now repeat the fold you just made, only this time folding only the top 1 inch (25 mm).
- Align the bottom edge of this fold to the bottom edge of your previous fold.
- Crease to keep the fold in place.
- Perform a third horizontal valley fold. Fold the top 0.5 inches (13 mm) down.
- Line up all the edges once again.
- Go over all of your creases and press each one again to keep the folds in place.
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Flip your paper over. You center crease should now be a mountain fold, meaning it is pointing up. [13] X Research source The last folds you performed should be on the opposite side of the paper now facing down. Fold the top two corners to the center line.
- Take the top two corners and fold each into the center. Align each so both folds are even.
- You may have to play with getting the paper to fold as the three folds you previously made might make it hard to fold the flaps down.
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Flip your paper back over. You will now have a piece of paper that looks like a house with a small triangle cap at the top.
- The folds you just made should now be on the opposite side of the paper facing down.
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Fold the plane in half towards you. Fold your paper up in a vertical valley fold along the center crease.
- You will now have two rectangular flaps showing, a triangle portion, and a square portion.
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Fold the wings down. Fold the wings down over your rectangular flaps. You want to fold the wings so the edges are flat.
- Fold the wings down so the creases you make here are at the top of your rectangular portion. This will create the wings and the body of your plane.
- The body should be about 0.5 inches (13 mm) tall.
- Make sure both wings are even with one another.
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Fold up two wing flaps. With your wings still folded down, take about 0.5 inches (13 mm) of your paper and fold it up in a valley fold. This will create a fin on each wing to help the plane fly.
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Throw your paper plane. Fold the wings up so the top portion is flat. Lift up your wing fins so each is perpendicular with your wings. [14] X Research source
- This plane has a heavy nose so you can throw it hard and watch it fly far.
- Hold the plane parallel to the ground and let loose.
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Start with a piece of 8 ½ in (21.5 cm) by 11 in (28 cm) printer or A4 paper. Position your paper in portrait mode. Fold the top left corner down in a diagonal valley fold. Crease and unfold. Repeat with the top right corner. Do the same with the bottom right and bottom left.
- Portrait mode means the paper is taller than it is wider.
- When you fold your diagonal valley fold you will have a triangle with a portion of rectangular paper of about 2.5 inches (64 mm) at the bottom.
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Perform a balloon fold. With your paper laying flat, pick up the sides of your paper and fold the middles in. Follow the creases you made to fold your paper down into a triangle shape. [15] X Research source
- You will now have a triangle shape with two flaps on top of your paper. Below, you will see two more flaps of paper which are creased in the center.
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Fold the bottom corners of your top layer up. Take the two corners of your triangle on the top layer, fold each to meet at the top of your paper.
- This is another diagonal valley fold.
- When completed you have a new top layer consisting of two triangles pointing away from each other. Together, these triangles form a diamond.
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Fold the outer edges into the center. You will have a larger triangle shape under your diamond. Take the outer corners of your triangle and fold to the center.
- Lift up the flaps of your diamond layer to fold these sections of paper under the diamond.
- The inner edges of this fold should meet at the area where the bottom crease on the inside of each diamond is.
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Fold the plane in half. Perform a vertical valley fold to fold your plane in half.
- Press all of your creases to keep your folds in place.
- Make sure that both sides of your plane are as even as possible.
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Fold the wings down. Fold your wings down so the edges of the wings align with the body of the plane. Then fold the triangle flaps in the front down. Fold these inner flaps down over the top edge of your wings.
- Make sure that your wings are even with one another for best results.
- Crease all of your new folds to keep everything in place.
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Fan out the wings and fly your plane. Fan out your wings so you have two narrow wings underneath two larger triangular wings at the front of your plane. [16] X Research source
- This plane is built to fly far due to its narrow structure.
- Hold it parallel to the ground flick your wrist to let it fly.
- Fly your plane in an open space for best results.
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Expert Q&A
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QuestionCan I do the wet paper folding technique when making paper airplanes?Coco Sato is an Origamist and Contemporary Artist based in Brighton, UK. She is an award-winning contemporary artist specializing in origami and geometric sculptures. With a multidisciplinary practice encompassing sculpture, performance, psychology, and geometry, she explores shifting perspectives through the intricate art of origami. Coco’s work bridges cultures by combining traditional Japanese aesthetics with contemporary concepts, inviting audiences to reconsider their relationship with the world.Wet folding is an interesting technique, but it’s not ideal for making paper airplanes. Wet folding works best for creating smooth curves or rounded shapes because the slight dampness allows the paper to bend and hold softer lines without breaking. Also, paper airplanes rely on sharp, straight folds to fly well. Adding water makes it harder to achieve those clean edges, and moisture could weaken your paper, which makes your airplane flimsy and prone to tearing. If you're folding paper airplanes, stick to dry folding.
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QuestionWill this paper airplane fly very far?Community AnswerIt can fly far if thrown correctly. The best way to throw is to grab the bottom of it between the back and middle. Keep your arm completely level or slightly tilted up while stepping forwards and swinging it ahead. Then let go. It takes some practice to master, but the better you get, the faster and further your paper airplane will go.
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QuestionWill it be easy for me to make a paper airplane the first time I try?Community AnswerYes, if you follow the instructions, making a paper airplane is easy, even the first time. If it doesn't fly as well as you would like, keep trying. Remember, practice makes perfect!
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Tips
- Test throwing your airplane outdoors so it can catch the wind and fly further. [17] X Trustworthy Source Science Buddies Expert-sourced database of science projects, explanations, and educational material Go to sourceThanks
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- Try taping or gluing your paper airplane if it doesn’t stay together on its own.Thanks
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Warnings
- Avoid throwing your airplane at any people or animals since the tip may be sharp.Thanks
- Don’t throw a paper airplane in school since you could get into trouble.Thanks
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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 .
References
- ↑ https://www.foldnfly.com/1.html
- ↑ https://www.foldnfly.com/1.html
- ↑ https://www.foldnfly.com/1.html
- ↑ https://www.foldnfly.com/1.html
- ↑ https://www.foldnfly.com/1.html
- ↑ https://www.origamiway.com/plane-nakamura-lock.shtml
- ↑ https://www.origamiway.com/plane-nakamura-lock.shtml
- ↑ https://www.origamiway.com/plane-nakamura-lock.shtml
- ↑ https://www.artofmanliness.com/skills/how-to/how-to-make-the-worlds-best-paper-airplanes/
- ↑ https://www.artofmanliness.com/skills/how-to/how-to-make-the-worlds-best-paper-airplanes/
- ↑ https://www.artofmanliness.com/skills/how-to/how-to-make-the-worlds-best-paper-airplanes/
- ↑ https://www.artofmanliness.com/skills/how-to/how-to-make-the-worlds-best-paper-airplanes/
- ↑ http://www.origami-make.com/origami-fold-mountain.php
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9BmrfQqrXkg
- ↑ http://www.origami-make.com/origami-fold-balloon.php
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NgbIRez2aUo
- ↑ https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-projects/project-ideas/Aero_p046/aerodynamics-hydrodynamics/how-far-will-paper-planes-fly
- ↑ https://www.origamiway.com/paper-airplanes.shtml
About This Article
Article Summary
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To make a simple paper airplane, first fold a piece of paper in half lengthwise. Then, unfold it and fold the top 2 corners to the center. Next, fold the angled edges that you just created towards the center, leaving about 1 cm of space between the bottom of the angled edges and the crease. Fold along your original center-line, revealing a small inverted triangle. Now, fold the small inverted triangle up, to lock the angled edges in place. Then, turn your plane over and fold down the top 2 flaps to create wings. Hold it by the bottom edge, and let it fly! For tips on making a slightly more advanced plane, keep reading the article!
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Reader Success Stories
- "My daughter had to know how to start making an airplane, it was in a homemade bread recipe. You had to start rolling the dough like you start out making an airplane. She forgot since school, so this helped her with rolling up the dough for her bread. " ..." more
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"My daughter had to know how to start making an airplane, it was in a homemade bread recipe. You had to start rolling the dough like you start out making an airplane. She forgot since school, so this helped her with rolling up the dough for her bread. "
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