easy how to make a paper boat

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How to Make a Paper Boat

Last Updated: November 10, 2023 Fact Checked

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. There are 7 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 4,482,918 times.

Making an origami paper boat is a great activity that’s easy to finish and doesn’t require a lot of materials. The beauty of making a paper boat is that you only need one piece of printer paper to complete the task! By folding the paper with sharp creases and shaping it carefully, you can make a great-looking origami boat in minutes. We'll walk you through folding your own paper boat with our complete step-by-step instructions.

Creating the Initial Folds

• To strengthen the crease, run your finger down the fold 3-4 more times.
• You should now have 2 creases along both centers (x-axis and y-axis) of the page.
• Use the crease you made before to help line up the folds coming in from the corners.
• The 2 folds should line up with each other.

Tip : When you go to fold the second side, use the first fold as a reference point.

• The flaps closest to you should be folded in front of the back flaps, not over them. If you fold over the back flaps, you won’t be able to fold the back flaps themselves.

Making the Final Folds

• Crease the paper along its edges so that it stays in the square shape.
• The bottom of the diamond should be the part of the paper with extra folds.
• The bottom corners will line up to become the bottom point of a square diamond.
• You may need to pull up the triangle inside the diamond while pulling apart the two sides. Try to keep the triangle inside the diamond sticking straight up as this will be your boat's "mast."
• You can reinforce the corners with clear tape and tape around the bottom to keep your boat dry.

Tip : Waterproof your boat! Use a waxed paper from an art store to make your boat last longer, or color one side of the paper completely with a crayon. You can also try to make your boat out of aluminum foil.

Expert Q&A

• If you are floating your boat on a large body of water, like a pond, you can tape string onto one end of the boat. Hold on to the other end of the string so that it doesn't float away! Thanks Helpful 311 Not Helpful 146
• Try to get the edges of the paper to line up. An evenly made boat means less chances of tipping over. Thanks Helpful 58 Not Helpful 32
• If you are making a tiny boat, don’t float it on a big body of water. You may lose it! Thanks Helpful 16 Not Helpful 11

Tips from our Readers

• If you don't have specialty supplies like wax paper or crayons, no need to fret. You likely already have the tools to waterproof your delicate paper boat right at home. Simply construct two separate boats out of ordinary printer or construction paper. Then, gently place one inside the other, nesting them together into a double-walled vessel. This should reinforce them to better withstand water without getting too soggy. Though, test float gently, as the extra weight could cause sinking if the little boat gets overburdened.
• Missing wax paper for true waterproofing? Simply equip your artist's toolkit by raiding the crayon bin! Thoroughly color one whole side of the boat with thick crayon before setting it afloat in a pool, pond or puddle. The waxy buildup should act as a shield against light water exposure. Though if embarking on choppier seas, extra reinforcements may still be needed, matey!
• Forego the plain printer paper and opt for fun vibrant colors and patterns! Tissue paper can make for a festively hued sail, but be extra delicate as it shreds easily, especially once wet. For best durability, stick to construction paper or card stock to give your boat more sturdiness as you launch it into the open water.

• Make sure you don't have any holes, as one little hole can turn into a huge rip. This could be good in a procedural text. Thanks Helpful 15 Not Helpful 3

You Might Also Like

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 .

• ↑ https://ussconstitutionmuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Make-a-Paper-Boat-Hard.pdf
• ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b3QZpBL8-Tg#t=1m20s
• ↑ https://www.origamiway.com/origami-boat.shtml
• ↑ https://kids.nationalgeographic.com/nature/article/make-a-paper-boat
• ↑ https://www.origamiway.com/origami-boat-2.shtml
• ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b3QZpBL8-Tg#t=2m54s
• ↑ https://kids.nationalgeographic.com/explore/nature/make-a-paper-boat/

About This Article

If you want to make a paper boat, fold a piece of paper in half from top to bottom. Then, fold it again from side to side and unfold so you have a crease in the center. Fold the top right corner down towards the center. Next, flip the paper over and fold the other corner down on the other side. Fold each of the bottom edges of the paper up and outwards to make a paper hat shape. Then, open the hat and flatten it horizontally to create a diamond. Fold the bottom edge of the diamond upwards towards the top. Then, turn the paper over and repeat on the other side. Pull the paper apart again and smooth it out to create a boat shape. Did this summary help you? Yes No

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How to Make a Paper Boat – Origami for Kids

We love doing simple origami and this time we’re going to learn how to make a paper boat – a summer favorite!

We’ve done quite a few awesome origami tutorials for kids and each of them is a must make!

I loved to make these as a kid (the exact same ones) and I loved to play with them even more – we would sail them in the bathtub, puddles and lakes and when possible even have boat races with other neighbourhood kids.

This time though we took it a step further too see who can make the smallest origami boat – each time working with a smaller piece of paper (cutting the size of the paper to half each time) and I was genuinely surprised with the size of paper we have come down to – and too be honest we could probably do one even smaller if I’d have some tweezers at hand.

How to Make a Paper Boat

All you need is a sheet of paper letter sized or A4. Regular print paper is perfect for this project. Use as many colors as possible.

Start off with a sheet of paper and fold it in half downwards.

Fold in half again as shown on the second image (you don’t need to make the crease from top to bottom – you just need to mark the center).

Bring corners to the center so that you get a triangle shape with a rectangle under it.

Fold the rectangle part under the triangle upwards (as shown with the purple spots) – flip your origami and do the same on the other side.

Grab the center of the triangle shape as indicated on the first image above with the red spot and pull both sides (holding the red spot) out. Flatten.

You’ll get the shape as shown on the second image above (ignore that red spot in the left bottom corner – I have no idea how that one came there haha).

Fold the front layer up (as shown with the green spot) flip the origami boat to be and do the same with the back layer. You’ll get a triangle shape.

Slowly pull the top parts outwards and you have your paper boat!

More cool origami for kids you can try:

We’ve had a lot of fun creating this shark fortune teller – it’s fun to make and even more fun to play with. You should also give these origami frogs a try!

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How To Make An Easy Paper Boat

• Pinterest 34

Quick and easy to make a paper boat, step-by-step tutorial with pictures. It is a simple origami project from just a piece of paper and lots of fun!

Origami Paper Boat

One of the simplest origami you can make to bring back memory and fun times. All you need to do is fold some paper a few times, add a few decorations or doodles you like, and your paper boat is ready in no time.

This paper boat is the exact one I used to make and play with when I was little. It is fun to make paper boats with various paper colours, and you can make them in different sizes too.

How To Make An Origami Boat

The only material you need to make a paper boat is print-size A4 paper. The colourful crafting paper is also fantastic for this project.

You can use stickers, pencil colour, or marker to add decoration or doodles.

The paper size should be rectangular. If you use a square shape like the paper specifically for origami, cut it into a rectangle for this project.

• Prepare the paper you like. First, fold the paper half downward or lengthwise. Next, fold it again in half, then open it up.
• Fold two corners on the top to the middle so both corners will meet up in the center along the folded line and resemble a triangle.

• Fold up both rectangle shapes under the triangle. Put your thumb on the opening right in the centre by the folded line.

Pull both corners in the opposite direction. Now the paper resembles a diamond shape folded paper.

• Press the paper flat. Fold the lower side upward, align it with the top, and do the same for the opposite side.

Put your thumb on the opening right in the centre by the folded line. Then pull both center lines in the opposite direction so you will have diamond shape paper.

• Slowly pull both of the top parts outward in opposite directions. Adjust the paper boat to smoothen up the fold if needed.
• Your paper boat is ready.

How To Play With The Paper Boat

A paper boat is floating in the water. That’s how I used to play with it. I had so much fun racing the paper boat on the bucket of water.

Because it is made of paper, it will float, but it is not waterproof. However, you can add clear tape or Mod Podge to seal the bottom of the boat to last longer.

Put the paper boat in a shoebox-sized plastic container with some small figurines. That sure will provide hours of fun.

If they like, let them decorate or doodle on their paper boat before putting it in the water.

More Easy Origami

• Paper Frog Puppet

Easy Step-by-Step Origami Paper Boat Tutorial

• A4 paper size or colourful crafting paper
• Pencil or marker (optional)

Instructions

• Pull both thumbs in the opposite direction. Now the paper resembles a diamond shape folded paper.
• Again, put your thumb on the opening right in the centre by the folded line. Then pull both center line in the opposite direction so you will have diamond shape paper.
• See the step-by-step picture tutorial for more detail.
• Use smaller size rectangle paper to make a small size boat.

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How to make a paper boat (step-by-step instructions)

I think everyone has made a paper boat at least once in their lifetime. Making paper boat is easy as we don’t need many materials to make it.

This is an origami craft, so all you need is a sheet of paper.

And this is a craft that every parent passes onto their kids, right?

Here is the step-by-step way to make a boat out of paper.

Materials required

A4 sheet / Letter size paper/Any rectangular paper

Step-by-step tutorial to make an easy paper boat for kids

a. Take an A4 sheet paper. Hold it horizontally as shown in the picture.

b. Fold it from left to right.

c. Make a crease.

d. Now, fold the paper from bottom to top.

e. Fold it well and make a crease.

f. Unfold the fold we just made in step d.

g&h. Now, fold the right corner towards the centre and make a crease.

i. Similarly, fold the left corner towards the centre.

j. Flatten the folded pieces down and now you have the figure as shown in pic j.

k&l. Now, from the bottom, fold one layer upwards along the bottom of the folds we made in j.

m. Make a crease and flatten it well.

n. Turn the figure over.

o. Now, like we did in the previous step, fold the bottom layer upwards.

p. Flatten the fold and make a crease again.

q&r. Open the bottom of the figure.

s. After opening as shown in pic r, flatten the top corner to the bottom as you can see in pic s.

You can see that the edges of the paper boat are overlapping on each other.

t. Insert one edge into the other (see pic t).

u. You get the figure in u.

v. Now, fold the layer from bottom to the top as shown in pic v.

w. Flatten the fold.

x. Flip the paper over and fold the other layer too. You will get the triangle shape in x.

y. Open the bottom of the figure again by pulling the flaps apart.

z. Flatten it out and you will get a diamond shape now.

aa. Open the figure by pulling the sides apart from the top to get the shape of the boat.

ab. Flatten it out an open again and your paper boat is ready.

In case you have any doubt regarding any step, feel free to watch the step-by-step video tutorial below. Please make sure you also  subscribe to our Youtube channel  to get more craft ideas for kids every week. 

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Video tutorial to make a paper boat

More paper crafts for kids

• How to make a paper airplane step-by-step
• How to make an easy and beautiful paper flower
• How to make an Origami jumping frog step-by-step

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Making an Easy Origami Boat

The Spruce Crafts / Chrissy Pk

• Total Time: 10 mins

Origami comes from the Japanese. The word means the art of folding paper. " Ori " means "folding," and  kami  means "paper." In modern usage, the word "origami" is used as an inclusive term for all folding practices. The goal is to transform a flat square sheet of paper into a finished sculpture through folding and sculpting techniques.

Learn how to make the most well-known origami boat with this quick and easy step-by-step tutorial. This origami boat can also float in water .

Watch Now: How to Make an Origami Boat

This origami boat is a great model to teach kids. It is similar to the origami hat that you make with newspaper. Also, origami can be a great math-related activity for kids as your child creates using geometry.

What You'll Need

• 1 Rectangular sheet of paper

Instructions

Make the first folds.

Start with your rectangular paper, orient it vertically, with the long edges going up and down. Fold the bottom half up to the top.Fold the bottom right corner over to the left corner and make a small pinch, just enough to crease the paper. Open it back up.

Create a Triangle Shape

Using the crease as a guide, fold the left and right bottom corners up and to the middle. Flatten the folded pieces down. Rotate the paper. Fold one layer from the bottom up along the bottom of the front flaps.

A Boat Begins to Take Shape

Flip the paper over to the other side. Fold the bottom edge up in the same way. Unfold, and then fold the bottom right corner in along the crease you made. Repeat on the bottom left flap.

Form the Bottom of the Boat

Re-fold the bottom edge back up. Open the bottom of the model. Look at the corners. Flatten and then insert the overlapping flap on the left underneath the right section.

Continue Folding

Fold one layer up to the top. Repeat on the back. Open the bottom of the model.

Finalize the Folds

Pull apart the left and right flaps. Flatten it out, in the shape of a boat. Open it slightly. The triangle in the middle resembles a sail.

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• How to Make a Cute Origami Sail Boat!
• How to Make an Easy Origami Dollar Shirt
• Origami Star Box Tutorial
• How to Fold an Origami Heart Bookmark
• Fold a Square Paper Into Fifths
• Traditional Origami Lily Flower Instructions
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Creating Your Own Origami Boat: A Step-by-Step Guide

Origami boats, often referred to as paper boats or origami paper boats, are a delightful and easy craft to create, making them an ideal activity for kids and adults alike. The art of folding paper into intricate shapes has captivated people for centuries, and making an origami boat is a perfect introduction to this ancient craft. With a few simple folds and a bit of patience, you can make your very own paper boat that can float and sail just like the real thing. In this guide, we will walk you through the steps to create your very own origami boat.

video courtesy of  White Origami

Materials You'll Need

Before we dive into the origami boat instructions, gather the materials you'll need. All you require is a sheet of origami paper or printer paper, a flat surface to work on, and a pair of hands ready for some fun folding!

Step 1: Preparing the Paper

Begin with a square piece of origami paper. If you're using printer paper, you can easily transform it into a square by following these steps:

Start with a rectangular piece of paper.

Fold one corner diagonally to the opposite edge to create a triangle shape.

Trim off the excess paper along the bottom edge, leaving a triangle.

Unfold the triangle, and you now have a square piece of paper.

Step 2: Creating the Initial Folds

Place the square piece of paper in front of you with one corner pointing upwards. Follow these steps to create the initial folds:

Fold the paper in half diagonally to form a triangle shape.

Unfold the triangle and then fold it in half diagonally the other way. You should have a crease forming an "X" on the paper.

Unfold the triangle again to return to the square shape.

Step 3: Forming the Boat Shape

With the square origami paper in front of you, follow these steps to create the boat shape:

Fold the bottom edge of the paper up to the top edge, creating a rectangle.

Rotate the paper so that the open edge is facing towards you.

Fold the bottom edge of the paper up to the top edge once more, creating a narrower rectangle.

Unfold the paper completely.

Step 4: Making the Bottom Folds

In this step, you'll create the folds that will form the bottom of the origami boat:

Fold the bottom corners of the paper up to the top point, aligning them with the center crease.

You'll notice that the paper now has a boat shape forming, with triangular flaps at the bottom corners.

Step 5: Folding Up the Boat Sides

Create the sides of the origami boat by following these instructions:

Take the bottom right corner of the paper and fold it up to the center crease, aligning the bottom edge with the crease. Repeat this step for the bottom left corner.

Turn the paper over and repeat the previous step on the other side. You should now have a boat shape with a pointed top and folded sides.

Step 6: Forming the Boat's Bottom

To complete the boat's structure, follow these steps to form the bottom:

Fold the bottom edge of the boat shape up towards the top point, creating a triangular flap.

Gently pull the triangular flap away from the boat and open it up.

Flatten the flap down to create the bottom of the boat.

Step 7: Creating the Boat's Sail

Origami boats can have sails to add a playful touch. Here's how to create a simple sail for your origami boat:

Take a rectangular piece of paper (you can use origami paper, foil paper, waxed paper, greaseproof paper, or even aluminum foil).

Fold the paper in half lengthwise to create a crease in the center.

Unfold the paper and then fold the top corners down towards the center crease, forming a triangle shape.

Fold the bottom edge of the paper up to the crease you made in the previous step.

Flip the paper over and fold the bottom corners of the triangle towards the center line, creating a smaller triangle at the top.

Insert the triangular sail into the open flap on your origami boat, and voila, your boat has a sail!

Step 8: Final Touches

Your origami boat is now complete and ready to set sail! Make any necessary adjustments to ensure the boat's stability and balance. If you're planning to float your origami boat in water, consider using waxed paper or greaseproof paper for added durability. You can also experiment with different paper sizes and colors to create a fleet of origami boats.

Creating an origami boat is a rewarding and enjoyable craft that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. With a few simple folds, you can transform a flat square sheet of paper into a charming boat that can float and sail on water. Origami boats are a perfect activity for kids, offering a blend of creativity and hands-on learning. So, gather your materials, follow the easy origami boat instructions, and have fun creating your very own fleet of paper boats. Whether you're a seasoned origami enthusiast or new to the world of paper folding, making an origami boat is a delightful and fulfilling experience that brings joy and creativity to the craft table.

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Origami Way

Make a paper boat origami boat instructions and diagram.

If you've always wanted to play with boats in the tub, but your parents wouldn't get one for you, don't worry. I will show you how to make an origami boat out of paper, and yes it floats...for a little bit, but it's still fun nonetheless. However, I heard that if you color the bottom of the boat with crayon, then it will float longer. Just be careful not to splash too much water on it!

Before we get into how to make an origami boat, let us first discuss where this paper folding originated and where it first appeared. If you're interested in the history of paper folding, continue reading to learn the fundamentals of origami.

Research studies say that origami was first invented about a thousand years ago by the Japanese, but its roots may well be in China. The term refers to the craft of paper folding. The word "origami" is an inclusive term for the folding process of paper. "Ori" means "folding," and "gami" means "paper." The objective of origami is to transform a flat square sheet of paper into a fully completed piece of art through folding techniques and cutting methods.

How to Make a Paper Boat Float Longer?

If you're ready to make your paper boat origami, keep these tips in mind to ensure it will last a long time on the water. The most common is that if you color the bottom of the origami boat with crayons, it will float longer but not long enough to reach the finish line. Some people also say that to make the boat last longer when it is on water, try using foil paper or grease-proof paper.

How to Make a Paper Boat?

The origami boat is actually very simple to make. All you need is a rectangular piece of paper, so any 8.5x11 copy or lined paper will do. Then follow the instructions and pictures carefully and you'll be able to make your own origami boat that floats.

With the help of this simple step-by-step lesson, you can quickly and easily create the most well-known origami paper boat.

• © Origamiway.com

How to make a Paper Boat – Easy Kids Origami

I LOVE paper craft, as you can do it whenever wherever with whatever piece of paper you have! Get the hang of it and you can entertain your kids on a bus, a plane or in the car. Making these easy origami paper boats is such a wonderful “childhood classic activity”. Let’s learn how to make a boat !

Make these paper boats out of any piece of paper any place at any time (I remember making these origami boats out of my bus ticket, whilst waiting to arrive at my destination)!

Make them HUGE or make them small. All you need is a sheet of paper of ANY size.

Not only only are the paper boats a fun craft, but they are also a great introduction to origami and following instructions! We love  Easy Origami for Kids  and this is a great one to get kids interested!

One Easy Boat Origami.. so many options!

No kits needed. Just one sheet of paper! Construction paper works too, but if you want to float these, “printer” paper or a magazine paper better, as they slightly less water absorbant, so will last longer!

Yes that is right.. learn how to make the one boat.. and you can decorate and use it in so many different ways. Here we simply too colourful paper and created an army of RAINBOW Paper Boats. They make great little canoes for playmobil mean and small toys too (squish down the middle to make space for sitting).

Next. We took plain white paper, and turned it into a pirate ship, with the quick addition of a Skull and Crossbones Toothpick Flag. Harr. Harr. Gotta love a Pirate Craft!

The great thing is, that these Paper Boats, also float. Kids can colour it in and take it in the bath or play with it on a small river (it will dissolve, should it float away). I have also used it to make a cute Father’s Day card!

My neighbours boys (5yrs & 7yrs) saw my draft video and after that they couldn’t stop – we made about 20 paper boats over the weekend – including to two MASSIVE ones. The 7yrs REALLY impressed me with his Pirate Ship and Island. This is what “How to..” is all about – getting stuck in and having fun with crafts! So chuffed!

Just check out their Giant Paper Boats How to:

Aren’t they simply fun?! (My Paper Boat Craft Models are in disguise)

Teaching Friends How To Make Paper Boats

Then it got better, they then went to a party… and ended up TEACHING their friends how to make boats. Here they are teaching each other to make their paper boats. **Bless**.

This is a little trickier than the paper cup craft from a couple of weeks ago, but once you know how to make one, you can make it anywhere out of any scarp paper (even a bus ticket!!). Keep your kids entertained on the go! Make one!!!

Origami Paper Boat – supplies

• a sheet of paper – it needs to be a rectangle!

Any size goes. It really doesn’t matter!

Easy Origami Paper Boat How To Video:

Though paper boats are super easy to learn how to make, it is great to watch this How to make a Paper Boat video. Seeing really is the quickest and easiest way to learn this wonderful Origami for Kids!

Step by step origami boat – written folding instructions

An A4 sheet of paper is ideal – you do need a rectangular sheet of paper… and most sheets of paper work. But we like the dimensions of an A4 or A5 sheet of paper. They are the perfect rectangle for a paper boat.

Start off making what is the classic origami hat (don’t worry the boat bit is coming)

The first fold follows the basic pattern for an origami hat.

Fold your sheet of paper in half. Make a neat crease. (So if using an A4 sheet of paper, you now have an A5 sized paper infront of you – like a card that opens and shuts).

Turn the paper round, so the closed edge is along the top. And the open edges along the bottom.

Fold the paper in half again and make a middle crease. Open back up. You just wanted to create a perpendicular guide line.

Now you need to work on both top corners: Fold the top right corner down, to meet this middle crease and create a triangle flap.

Repeat with the top left corner. Now you have two triangle shape flaps that meet in the middle.

You should now have two triangles with a banner along the bottom made of two sheets of paper.

Take the bottom of the paper and fold up. Two small triangles will overlap. Fold these down to make another eat edge.

Flip the origami over and repeat for the other side.

You should now have what looks like a “classic paper hat”.

Turning the classic paper hat into a boat that floats

Take the two points one either side and bring to the centre and flatten.

You should have a diamond with equal sides in front of you (or a square shape on it’s side).

Take the bottom corner and fold up. Flip over.

Repeat for the other side. You should now have a traingle again.

Take the point on the left and right and again, bring them together to meet in the middle.

And flattern. You should have another diamond.

This time, you can pull it appart and make our final boat shape.

And finished! Now decorate it in any way you wish! And as we have shown you above you can have lots of fun with this basic paper boat.

The paper boat does float – it is perfect for the sink or puddles, but will eventually get soggy. If you want to play with it for longer, you may want to make it from waxed paper. Or maybe add some clear tape to the bottom of the boat to water proof it a little.

More Easy Origami for Kids here:

See all our fun DIY Boat Crafts here, incluing other fun boat crafts that float:

This video tutorial is also available on my YouTube channel

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How To Make An Easy Origami Paper Boat

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When I as a kid, I used to make paper boats during the rains and float them in a large puddle that collected outside my grandmother’s place. The basic origami boat is another model that many children come across and we forget as adults. Let’s float back down memory lane.

The basic paper boat requires a rectangular sheet of paper, so if you’re using square origami paper, cut off a strip to make it rectangular.

Like most basic models, this is very forgiving and you can get away with using almost any sort of paper. If you plan on actually floating it in water, however, paper that’s too thin will not last very long, so keep that in mind.

Instructions

To begin, keep the rectangle in portrait format in front of you, i.e. laid tall rather than wide. Fold the paper down in half, making it half as tall.

Next you should fold it in half again along the width of the sheet. That’s 4 layers of paper, so be careful to make a neat crease.

Open up the last fold and now fold down one half of the top folded edge down towards the central crease. It will form a triangle like this.

Mirror the same fold on the other half and you’ll create this peak or point at the top of your paper.

The model now has two loose layers of paper towards the bottom. Lift the top layer and fold it upwards. Turn the model over and do the same with the bottom flap of the paper again.

The model is now almost a perfect triangle except for these extra corners at the bottom. Fold the extra bits over the sides of the thick triangle, and repeat from the other side. Now you have a perfect triangle with a hollow bit at the bottom.

Open up the hollow gap and bring the two side corners of the triangle flat together like this. Fold the rest of it flat to form this small square.

The square still has a hollow area inside and one end has two free corners. Fold one of them to the opposite corner like this to form a smaller triangular shape.

Turn the model over and repeat with the remaining free corner.

You now have a smaller triangle with a hollow area inside. Like before, open this up and fold it flat into a smaller square.

The top end now has two loose triangular corners like you can see here. Pull those apart, and fold the base of the boat flat.

Open up the boat model and it should look like this with a triangular shape sticking out from the middle.

That triangular shape is hollow and can be opened up from the bottom. Pull it apart a little to make the boat more stable, It will also help it float on water without tipping over.

Your boat is done. Try it out!

P.S. Please subscribe to Papernautic on YouTube to keep track of the latest videos and tutorials.

Make a paper boat

Explore a creek or stream by setting sail! With nothing more than some paper and a few folding tricks you can make your own vessel to investigate the water's currents. Text adapted from the Nat Geo Kids book Get Outside Guide by Nancy Honovich  and Julie Beer.

Take a piece of paper and place it in front of you with the shorter side at the top. Fold the paper in half from top to bottom.

Fold left to right to find the center and reopen. Bring the top two corners together to the middle, forming a point, and crease.

Fold the top flap at the bottom of the paper up; turn over and fold the other flap up. Fold the triangle tabs in over each other so you have a triangle.

Pop open the center like a hat, push the pointed sides to meet, and crease down so that you now have a square.

With the opening facing you, fold the top layer up to meet the other point. Turn the paper over and repeat.

Gently pull apart the top two points while pushing out with your fingers to form the bottom of the boat. Reinforce corners with clear tape, and also tape around the bottom to keep your boat dry. Now you're ready to launch your craft!

Read this next!

Craft corner, (ad) make this, (ad) get outside guide, (ad) nat geo kids cookbook: a year-round fun food adventure.

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• How to Make a Paper Boat in 2 Easy Ways (DIY for Kids)

Two Easiest Ways to Make Paper Boats with Newspapers and Origami

Making paper boats is super easy and fun.

Is the rainy season right around the corner? Then we suggest teaching your children how to make paper boats! Most kids are stuck at home on a gloomy rainy day. And they might end up getting bored too fast. To keep them engaged for a long time, we suggest you teach them how to make a paper boat from scratch!

Children can make paper boats with both newspaper and origami sheets. They can float the paper boat in a puddle or along any stream of water. And do you know what the best part is? They can make as many as they want!

So let's check out the two easiest ways of making paper boats with both old newspapers and origami paper boats. Let's get started!

How to Make a Paper Boat with Old Newspapers

Paper Boat With Newspaper

Materials Required 

Bamboo skewers

Wallpaper scraps

Strong glue 

Take the newspaper and cut it into the size of 35*45 cm. You can take the help of a ruler to measure the length of the newspaper.

Fold the newspaper in half from top to bottom. Then again, fold it from side to side and create a crease. Unfold the paper.

Please fold the paper from the upper left to touch the central crease. Repeat the process for the upper right tip. 

Wrap the bottom flap up, flip it over and wrap the other bottom flap up. Put your thumb in the middle, pull it outward, and press the paper flat to make a square. 

With the tip of the open side, lift any bottom flap and touch it to the other tip. Turn over the paper and repeat the process to get a triangle.

Next, hold onto both the upper tips and pull them apart gently to create your paper boat!

If you wish to decorate, you can cut out two small pieces of wallpaper and put a skewer through both the pieces to make a sail. Poke the skewer to the boat's top and secure it with glue.  

Step By Step Guide on How to Make Paper Boat with Origami  

Origami paper boats are super easy to make. All you need is an origami paper of your choice and colour, and that's it. Here are the steps to follow to make the boat -

How to Make Paper Boat with Origami

First, fold the paper in half. Keep it down vertically on your table or floor and fold it from left to right to ensure that the corners meet. Make sure there is a neat crease on the paper. You can run your finger over the crease 2-3 times to make it more pronounced.

Next, unfold the origami paper, and rotate it 90 degrees to fold it up in half again. By now, the paper should be in a horizontal position. Once you are done adjusting the paper, fold it from left to right. It will create yet another crease in the middle of the page.

How to Fold a Paper to make Paper Boat

Now flip the origami paper so that the fold opens facing you. Then fold the top corners of the paper towards the middle leaving about 2.5 to 5 cm of space at the bottom. Ensure these folds match with the central crease. To secure all the folds, crease along the edge of the papers. 

Next, pull up the bottom of the page and fold it up against both sides. Take the bottom flap and fold it against the lower end of the two triangles. Turn the paper around and repeat the process with the other flap. It will result in a paper hat. 

Next, take the lower corners and fold them over inside. On one side, take the rectangle's corners and put them over the triangle. Tuck those paper parts inside the triangle's edges and crease them with your fingers to stay in place. Then put the bottom flaps towards you over the triangle edges. 

Now it is time to make the triangle into squares. Rotate the triangle 45 degrees and open the bottom of the triangle with your fingers. Gently pull the paper so that it slowly turns into a square. 

Next, fold the bottom flaps and rearrange your paper to fold up the bottom parts of the diamond. Fold up any one corner to align with the top one. Repeat the process on the other side too. 

Now, turn the resultant triangle into a square too. Rotate the triangle 45 degrees and open the bottom of the triangle with your fingers. Gently pull the paper so that it slowly turns into a square. 

Next, pull the triangles to the sides of the square. Start with the top of the diamond, pilling both sides apart so that the middle seam blooms. Make sure to crease the bottom of the folded area to make your paper boat stronger.

And that's it! Your paper boat swing is ready!

So we just saw that making paper boats is a super fun activity for both you and your kids. This activity can keep both their restless minds and hands occupied, making the cutest paper boats that they can use to play in the rain. So get the materials mentioned above and start to make a paper boat with your kid!

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Easy Sailing

If you haven’t noticed, we have been working with a bit of a nautical theme recently. Our nautical wrapping paper  and nautical gift tags are great for pretty summer gift-giving. And the You Are My Anchor card can be used for any occasion to show appreciation for your loved ones. We particularly love the beachy nautical theme for summer celebrations! Our under the sea photo props are perfect for creating a nautical themed summer party, and this paper boat project can easily be incorporated into your party decor.

In our tutorial below, you will see how simple it is to assemble this boat—making it a great craft project for kids! They can make their own paper boat to play with, help you set the table with it (see pictures below for inspiration), or use it in another craft project.

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You've found a member-exclusive project. But for less than the price of a fancy coffee... You'll get instant access to this and over 2,000 other premium projects inside the Lia Griffith membership!

To make a paper boat set, begin by downloading the template below. Download the SVG version if you will be using a cutting machine, or use the PDF version if you are cutting by hand. If you are using the PDF version, you can print the template directly onto the paper you will be using.

We made our paper boats with an assortment of pretty metallic text weight papers. You can use any color scheme that you would like for these boats, but we decided to create these boats to match our 1970s retro sailboat gift wrap . I’ve added links for each of the papers below in the materials list. If you are using this paper boat project to incorporate into a nautical or beach themed party, I would suggest using a color scheme that matches your specific event decor.

Our paper boats can be used as cute party favors that you can fill with candies, or to decorate a table setting. Scatter them around the table, or write names on the boats to use as adorable place cards! You can even create your own paper boat garland to hang around your party by attaching the boats to a pretty ribbon or piece of colored baker’s twine. I’m thinking these boats would make for a super cute baby mobile…there are so many possibilities!

This content uses links from which we may earn a commission.  Disclosure .

How to Make a Paper Boat

• Gather your craft tools and materials. Then download the template above.
• Cut and score your paper according to the template, using your scissors or a cutting machine.
• Fold along score lines. Clip slits along the tabs to allow for a curve.
• Glue small tabs and attach to the side. Then, glue slit tabs to the front of the boat.

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Follow us on Instagram , Facebook , and Pinterest to stay updated on the projects we share daily, and browse  our YouTube channel for DIY video tutorials.

For instant access to our templates and tutorials, take a look at our membership options . Always feel free to write in with project suggestions to [email protected]! Until next time ~ Lia

 Tools

• Craft Scissors or Cricut Explore Air 2
• Low-Temp Hot Glue Gun
• Needle-Nose Pliers/Wire Cutters

 Materials

• Text Weight Paper – Poptone Berrylicious , Stardream Metallic Sapphire , Stardream Metallic Crystal ,  Paper Source Curry , and Poptone Orange Fizz
• Wood Skewer

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15 Comments

Hi Lía! How are u? Im from Argentina and i love everything you do. I have a question for you please: i have the scan cut from Brother; today i tried to print the boat with the sgv file and everything was ok but in the part where im supposed to fold the paper, the print cut the Paper so i have to glue all the parts. I think i have done something wrong because the instructions shows that the botton part or the boat is one piece and instead i have several parts. Hope you undestand me and help me 🙂. Thank you very much Flavia

We are not familiar with the Brother cutting machine, the lines that indicate fold lines should be scored by your machine. You will need to manually select these lines to score them. Please contact Brother customer care for any help regarding your machine.

I BOUGHT YOUR BOOK,BUT CAN’T FIND ON YOUR SITE WHERE TO TYPE IN THE CODE FOR THE FREE PROJECT DOWNLOADS.

Hello! Page 12 lists the URL and secret code.

How adorable the little boats are, want to make lots of them. Did get few cut on my Cricut. Want to get more colors of metallic papers when we return from vacation, love how metallic papers give any item such rich look. Have so much want to do when we get back. The boats I did cut out on Cricut used some metallic papers gotten at Walmart, not much variety of colors but can do lighter boats, really pretty, look pearlescent. Have you looked into new Gold Cricut? Saw ad online can pay $50.00 to trade machines. Will there be your projects on gold machine? Haven’t used projects that came with Cricut Air, are those still in machine or have they expired? Am always so careful, concerned will mess up machine. Being digitally compromised tends to cause me to be extra cautious. Your site inspires me to be creative even when other part of life dulls creativity. There will be celebration of life for grandson who died in June 8th. Celebration will be on July 8th. Hoping we’ll be able to attend. Have great week all.

Thanks so much, I’m glad you love the boats! The Gold Cricut is beautiful, isn’t it? My projects won’t be available with that bundle. I’m not sure about the projects that came with your machine, but you can contact Cricut’s customer service to be sure. We’ll be thinking of you as you celebrate your grandson’s life!

I have been searching everywhere for a 3D paper boat! I’m having a nautical theme for my wedding and since it’s river nautical and not ocean, I didn’t want whales, starfish, seahorses, etc. This will be great for the reception. I’m going to fill them with goldfish crackers!

Thank you so much!

Oh that’s great, I’m so glad this will work for your wedding!

Ooooh! Thank you! I’ve been trying to make a 3d ocean view mobile for my grandson. It is not easy finding 3d files, and I’ve had to try to make my own. This boat is perfect!

Oh, how great! I’m so glad the boat will work for you 🙂

Thank you Lia you are such an inspiration to my craftie side. I really love all your projects. I find pleasure on opening my email and see your gift to me everyday. Many blessings.

Thank you Rhoda, that means so much to me! 🙂

Would appericate more written instruction, plus a complete material list. For example, what is the size of dowel used, or was it even a dowel? Options are nice, but spefics are better:)

Oops! The photo tutorial was accidentally missing from the post this morning, but it’s there now with plenty of details 🙂

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