How to make a dollar bill origami star
Dollar Bill Origami Star: try all 40 steps in the 3D player. Turn and replay every move. Print the complete diagram sheet or save it as PDF.
An Origami Tutor eight-point money star made from four dollar bills. Each bill keeps its full length and folds into a double-ended ray; crossing the four rays gives eight equally long points. A small piece of removable tape holds the centres together at the back.
- You need
- Four dollar bills (156 × 66 mm), or four paper rectangles of that size, a small piece of removable low-tack tape. No cuts or glue.
- Start
- Use four flat bills, or four 156 × 66 mm paper rectangles. Lay them side by side with long edges across, the side you want on the front facing down. Make matching corner folds on all four bills.
- Tips
- Match the corner-fold angles at both ends of every bill.
- Keep the four midpoints together when crossing the rays.
- Use paper rectangles for practice and removable tape for the final assembly.
Your model is ready
Keep all four midpoints together. Secure their backs at the centre with a small piece of removable tape, then lift the completed eight-point star. The bills remain uncut. The finished dollar star, with eight long equal points made from four uncut bills.
Step-by-step diagrams
Steps 1–7
- 1
Bill 1: fold the bill lengthwise
Bring the top long edge down to the bottom long edge. Match the corners and press the middle crease.
- 2
Bill 1: fold the upper left corner behind
Fold this corner behind at 45 degrees, starting at the midpoint of the short end. Its short edge meets the line joining the two end midpoints. The two corners at each end make a point.
- 3
Bill 1: fold the lower left corner behind
Fold this corner behind at 45 degrees, starting at the midpoint of the short end. Its short edge meets the line joining the two end midpoints. The two corners at each end make a point.
- 4
Bill 1: fold the upper right corner behind
Fold this corner behind at 45 degrees, starting at the midpoint of the short end. Its short edge meets the line joining the two end midpoints. The two corners at each end make a point.
- 5
Bill 1: fold the lower right corner behind
Fold this corner behind at 45 degrees, starting at the midpoint of the short end. Its short edge meets the line joining the two end midpoints. The two corners at each end make a point.
- 6
Bill 1: narrow the upper left point edge
Fold the new sloping edge behind to the line joining the two end points. Keep the end point fixed. Narrow all four edges this way to give both ends sharp 45-degree points.
- 7
Bill 1: narrow the lower left point edge
Fold the new sloping edge behind to the line joining the two end points. Keep the end point fixed. Narrow all four edges this way to give both ends sharp 45-degree points.
Steps 8–14
- 8
Bill 1: narrow the upper right point edge
Fold the new sloping edge behind to the line joining the two end points. Keep the end point fixed. Narrow all four edges this way to give both ends sharp 45-degree points.
- 9
Bill 1: narrow the lower right point edge
Fold the new sloping edge behind to the line joining the two end points. Keep the end point fixed. Narrow all four edges this way to give both ends sharp 45-degree points.
- 10
Bill 2: fold the bill lengthwise
Bring the top long edge down to the bottom long edge. Match the corners and press the middle crease.
- 11
Bill 2: fold the upper left corner behind
Fold this corner behind at 45 degrees, starting at the midpoint of the short end. Its short edge meets the line joining the two end midpoints. The two corners at each end make a point.
- 12
Bill 2: fold the lower left corner behind
Fold this corner behind at 45 degrees, starting at the midpoint of the short end. Its short edge meets the line joining the two end midpoints. The two corners at each end make a point.
- 13
Bill 2: fold the upper right corner behind
Fold this corner behind at 45 degrees, starting at the midpoint of the short end. Its short edge meets the line joining the two end midpoints. The two corners at each end make a point.
- 14
Bill 2: fold the lower right corner behind
Fold this corner behind at 45 degrees, starting at the midpoint of the short end. Its short edge meets the line joining the two end midpoints. The two corners at each end make a point.
Steps 15–21
- 15
Bill 2: narrow the upper left point edge
Fold the new sloping edge behind to the line joining the two end points. Keep the end point fixed. Narrow all four edges this way to give both ends sharp 45-degree points.
- 16
Bill 2: narrow the lower left point edge
Fold the new sloping edge behind to the line joining the two end points. Keep the end point fixed. Narrow all four edges this way to give both ends sharp 45-degree points.
- 17
Bill 2: narrow the upper right point edge
Fold the new sloping edge behind to the line joining the two end points. Keep the end point fixed. Narrow all four edges this way to give both ends sharp 45-degree points.
- 18
Bill 2: narrow the lower right point edge
Fold the new sloping edge behind to the line joining the two end points. Keep the end point fixed. Narrow all four edges this way to give both ends sharp 45-degree points.
- 19
Bill 3: fold the bill lengthwise
Bring the top long edge down to the bottom long edge. Match the corners and press the middle crease.
- 20
Bill 3: fold the upper left corner behind
Fold this corner behind at 45 degrees, starting at the midpoint of the short end. Its short edge meets the line joining the two end midpoints. The two corners at each end make a point.
- 21
Bill 3: fold the lower left corner behind
Fold this corner behind at 45 degrees, starting at the midpoint of the short end. Its short edge meets the line joining the two end midpoints. The two corners at each end make a point.
Steps 22–28
- 22
Bill 3: fold the upper right corner behind
Fold this corner behind at 45 degrees, starting at the midpoint of the short end. Its short edge meets the line joining the two end midpoints. The two corners at each end make a point.
- 23
Bill 3: fold the lower right corner behind
Fold this corner behind at 45 degrees, starting at the midpoint of the short end. Its short edge meets the line joining the two end midpoints. The two corners at each end make a point.
- 24
Bill 3: narrow the upper left point edge
Fold the new sloping edge behind to the line joining the two end points. Keep the end point fixed. Narrow all four edges this way to give both ends sharp 45-degree points.
- 25
Bill 3: narrow the lower left point edge
Fold the new sloping edge behind to the line joining the two end points. Keep the end point fixed. Narrow all four edges this way to give both ends sharp 45-degree points.
- 26
Bill 3: narrow the upper right point edge
Fold the new sloping edge behind to the line joining the two end points. Keep the end point fixed. Narrow all four edges this way to give both ends sharp 45-degree points.
- 27
Bill 3: narrow the lower right point edge
Fold the new sloping edge behind to the line joining the two end points. Keep the end point fixed. Narrow all four edges this way to give both ends sharp 45-degree points.
- 28
Bill 4: fold the bill lengthwise
Bring the top long edge down to the bottom long edge. Match the corners and press the middle crease.
Steps 29–35
- 29
Bill 4: fold the upper left corner behind
Fold this corner behind at 45 degrees, starting at the midpoint of the short end. Its short edge meets the line joining the two end midpoints. The two corners at each end make a point.
- 30
Bill 4: fold the lower left corner behind
Fold this corner behind at 45 degrees, starting at the midpoint of the short end. Its short edge meets the line joining the two end midpoints. The two corners at each end make a point.
- 31
Bill 4: fold the upper right corner behind
Fold this corner behind at 45 degrees, starting at the midpoint of the short end. Its short edge meets the line joining the two end midpoints. The two corners at each end make a point.
- 32
Bill 4: fold the lower right corner behind
Fold this corner behind at 45 degrees, starting at the midpoint of the short end. Its short edge meets the line joining the two end midpoints. The two corners at each end make a point.
- 33
Bill 4: narrow the upper left point edge
Fold the new sloping edge behind to the line joining the two end points. Keep the end point fixed. Narrow all four edges this way to give both ends sharp 45-degree points.
- 34
Bill 4: narrow the lower left point edge
Fold the new sloping edge behind to the line joining the two end points. Keep the end point fixed. Narrow all four edges this way to give both ends sharp 45-degree points.
- 35
Bill 4: narrow the upper right point edge
Fold the new sloping edge behind to the line joining the two end points. Keep the end point fixed. Narrow all four edges this way to give both ends sharp 45-degree points.
Steps 36–40
- 36
Bill 4: narrow the lower right point edge
Fold the new sloping edge behind to the line joining the two end points. Keep the end point fixed. Narrow all four edges this way to give both ends sharp 45-degree points.
- 37
Place the first double-ended ray
Lay the first folded bill across the middle, with one sharp point at each end.
- 38
Cross bill 2 over the centre
Match the midpoint of this ray to the others and turn it an eighth of a turn farther round. Keep the eight pointed ends equally spaced.
- 39
Cross bill 3 over the centre
Match the midpoint of this ray to the others and turn it an eighth of a turn farther round. Keep the eight pointed ends equally spaced.
- 40
Cross bill 4 over the centre
Match the midpoint of this ray to the others and turn it an eighth of a turn farther round. Keep the eight pointed ends equally spaced.
- ✓
Finish
Keep all four midpoints together. Secure their backs at the centre with a small piece of removable tape, then lift the completed eight-point star. The bills remain uncut. The finished dollar star, with eight long equal points made from four uncut bills.
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