How to make a paper duck
Paper Duck: try all 11 steps in the 3D player. Turn and replay every move. Print the complete diagram sheet or save it as PDF.
An Origami Tutor swimming duck with a short upright neck, a broad bill, an upturned tail and a level folded belly. One square, without cuts or glue.
- You need
- One square of thin yellow or white origami paper. A pen for an optional eye. No glue or scissors.
- Start
- Start white side up, with one corner pointing up.
- Tips
- Match the two sides before closing the body.
- Keep the belly fold straight so the duck looks level.
Your model is ready
The duck is folded. Stand it with the short neck upright and the folded belly level. The tail points up behind the body. Add a small eye if you like. The swimming duck with its short neck, broad bill and level waterline.
Step-by-step diagrams
Steps 1–6
- 1
Crease the middle
Fold the left corner to the right corner, press, and open.
- 2
Fold the left edge in
Fold the lower left edge to the center crease.
- 3
Fold the right edge in
Fold the lower right edge to the center crease the same way.
- 4
Turn over
Turn the kite over, keeping its long point at the bottom.
- 5
Mark the neck's root
Bring the bottom point up to the top point, press the fold, and open it again.
- 6
Mark the head
Fold a longer tip up along the marked line, press, and open again. This makes a broad bill and leaves a short neck.
Steps 7–11
- 7
Fold in half
Fold the right half behind the left along the center crease.
- 8
Raise the neck
Outside reverse fold the long bottom point to the right along the line, wrapping its layers around the body. Press flat.
- 9
Shape the broad bill
Wrap the end down around the neck along the marked line. Close the two sides to make the duck's broad, forward-pointing bill.
- 10
Flatten the waterline
Fold the bottom body corner behind along the short straight line. When the neck stands up, this edge is the duck's level waterline.
- 11
Turn the duck upright
Turn the whole model a quarter turn counterclockwise. The neck points up and the folded belly lies level.
- ✓
Finish
The duck is folded. Stand it with the short neck upright and the folded belly level. The tail points up behind the body. Add a small eye if you like. The swimming duck with its short neck, broad bill and level waterline.
Fold next
Crane ↗
The crane begins with a square base. Two petal folds turn it into a bird base with separate points for the neck and tail; the broad flaps become the wings. Work through one side of the body before repeating the narrowing folds on the back.
Swan ↗
The traditional kite-base swan, with a pointed tail, a long neck and a small head.
Pig ↗
The traditional kindergarten pig, recorded in 1863. It stands on four pointed feet, with a raised tail and a short snout.
Japanese rabbit ↗
The cupboard-base Japanese rabbit recorded in 1935, with long ears and a small turned-up tail. Fold its broad head, narrow ears, body and reversed tail.