How to make an origami box with lid
Origami Box With Lid: try all 46 steps in the 3D player. Turn and replay every move. Print the complete diagram sheet or save it as PDF.
A two-piece gift box: a traditional masu box and a matching lid folded from a square a quarter inch larger, so the lid slides over the box. No scissors or glue.
- You need
- Two squares of origami paper: 6 × 6 in for the box and 6¼ × 6¼ in for the lid. No glue.
- Start
- Use a 6 in square for the box and a 6¼ in square for the lid. Start both white side up with a corner pointing up, the lid's square to the right.
- Tips
- Fold the box and the lid with the same paper so the fit stays even.
Your model is ready
The box and its lid are ready. Press the points flat on both floors and sharpen the rims. Turn the larger lid upside down and lower it over the box. The finished gift box and its lid, side by side with their open tops up.
Step-by-step diagrams
Steps 1–7
- 1
Find the middle across (box)
Fold the top corner to the bottom corner, press, and open.
- 2
Find the middle lengthwise (box)
Fold the left corner to the right corner, press, and open.
- 3
Fold the top corner in (box)
Bring the top corner to the center, where the two creases cross.
- 4
Fold the right corner in (box)
Bring the right corner to the center.
- 5
Fold the bottom corner in (box)
Bring the bottom corner to the center.
- 6
Fold the left corner in (box)
Bring the left corner to the center.
- 7
Crease the top wall (box)
Fold the top edge to the middle, press, and open it again.
Steps 8–14
- 8
Crease the bottom wall (box)
Fold the bottom edge to the middle, press, and open it again.
- 9
Crease the left wall (box)
Fold the left edge to the middle, press, and open it again.
- 10
Crease the right wall (box)
Fold the right edge to the middle, press, and open it again.
- 11
Open the top end (box)
Open the top triangle all the way out. Keep the other two corners at the center.
- 12
Open the bottom end (box)
Open the bottom triangle all the way out. Keep the other two corners at the center.
- 13
Fold the left side in (box)
Fold the long left edge to the middle along its wall crease.
- 14
Fold the right side in (box)
Fold the long right edge to meet it at the middle.
Steps 15–21
- 15
Prepare the upper left corner (box)
Fold the whole end sideways along the slanting line, press, and open it again.
- 16
Prepare the upper right corner (box)
Fold the whole end sideways along the slanting line, press, and open it again.
- 17
Prepare the lower left corner (box)
Fold the whole end sideways along the slanting line, press, and open it again.
- 18
Prepare the lower right corner (box)
Fold the whole end sideways along the slanting line, press, and open it again.
- 19
Find the middle across (lid)
Fold the top corner to the bottom corner, press, and open.
- 20
Find the middle lengthwise (lid)
Fold the left corner to the right corner, press, and open.
- 21
Fold the top corner in (lid)
Bring the top corner to the center, where the two creases cross.
Steps 22–28
- 22
Fold the right corner in (lid)
Bring the right corner to the center.
- 23
Fold the bottom corner in (lid)
Bring the bottom corner to the center.
- 24
Fold the left corner in (lid)
Bring the left corner to the center.
- 25
Crease the top wall (lid)
Fold the top edge to the middle, press, and open it again.
- 26
Crease the bottom wall (lid)
Fold the bottom edge to the middle, press, and open it again.
- 27
Crease the left wall (lid)
Fold the left edge to the middle, press, and open it again.
- 28
Crease the right wall (lid)
Fold the right edge to the middle, press, and open it again.
Steps 29–35
- 29
Open the top end (lid)
Open the top triangle all the way out. Keep the other two corners at the center.
- 30
Open the bottom end (lid)
Open the bottom triangle all the way out. Keep the other two corners at the center.
- 31
Fold the left side in (lid)
Fold the long left edge to the middle along its wall crease.
- 32
Fold the right side in (lid)
Fold the long right edge to meet it at the middle.
- 33
Prepare the upper left corner (lid)
Fold the whole end sideways along the slanting line, press, and open it again.
- 34
Prepare the upper right corner (lid)
Fold the whole end sideways along the slanting line, press, and open it again.
- 35
Prepare the lower left corner (lid)
Fold the whole end sideways along the slanting line, press, and open it again.
Steps 36–42
- 36
Prepare the lower right corner (lid)
Fold the whole end sideways along the slanting line, press, and open it again.
- 37
Raise both side walls (box)
Open the two long side folds halfway, until both sides stand at right angles to the square floor. Leave the long end flaps pointing out.
- 38
Raise the top end wall (box)
Pinch the two top corners inward along their diagonal creases. Bring the end wall upright, with both triangular gussets lying against its inside. Keep the floor square and the long sides upright.
- 39
Wrap the top flap inside (box)
Fold the long flap over the top rim, covering the two corner triangles. Bend its point onto the floor along the existing crease and press it toward the center.
- 40
Raise the bottom end wall (box)
Pinch the two bottom corners inward along their diagonal creases. Bring the end wall upright, with both triangular gussets lying against its inside. Keep the floor square and the long sides upright.
- 41
Wrap the bottom flap inside (box)
Fold the long flap over the top rim, covering the two corner triangles. Bend its point onto the floor along the existing crease and press it toward the center.
- 42
Raise both side walls (lid)
Open the two long side folds halfway, until both sides stand at right angles to the square floor. Leave the long end flaps pointing out.
Steps 43–46
- 43
Raise the top end wall (lid)
Pinch the two top corners inward along their diagonal creases. Bring the end wall upright, with both triangular gussets lying against its inside. Keep the floor square and the long sides upright.
- 44
Wrap the top flap inside (lid)
Fold the long flap over the top rim, covering the two corner triangles. Bend its point onto the floor along the existing crease and press it toward the center.
- 45
Raise the bottom end wall (lid)
Pinch the two bottom corners inward along their diagonal creases. Bring the end wall upright, with both triangular gussets lying against its inside. Keep the floor square and the long sides upright.
- 46
Wrap the bottom flap inside (lid)
Fold the long flap over the top rim, covering the two corner triangles. Bend its point onto the floor along the existing crease and press it toward the center.
- ✓
Finish
The box and its lid are ready. Press the points flat on both floors and sharpen the rims. Turn the larger lid upside down and lower it over the box. The finished gift box and its lid, side by side with their open tops up.
Fold next
Masu box ↗
Fold the traditional square masu box, with upright walls and both end flaps locked onto the floor.
Masu lid ↗
A matching masu box and lid. Fold the same pattern from two different-sized squares, then turn the larger tray over and fit it onto the smaller box.
Basic box ↗
A rectangular tray with two broad folded rims. This Origami Tutor sequence opens the traditional basic-box shape while keeping its floor flat.
Letter paper box ↗
A deep rectangular box folded from one uncut sheet of letter paper, with narrow rims at both ends. This Origami Tutor sequence opens the traditional basic-box shape without cutting or glue.