How to make an origami pyramid box
Origami Pyramid Box: try all 9 steps in the 3D player. Turn and replay every move. Print the complete diagram sheet or save it as PDF.
A square pyramid gift box from one square of card. Cut away four notches to leave a star of four triangles round a square floor, crease the floor's edges, and lean the triangles in until their points meet.
- You need
- One square of card, 19 × 19 cm, a ruler and pencil, scissors and a ribbon or tape.
- Start
- Use a square of card, 19 cm across, white side up. Mark a 5 cm square in the middle for the floor. On each side of it mark a triangle whose base is the square's side and whose point is 7 cm out, touching the middle of the card's edge.
- Tips
- Measure the 19 cm square and the 5 cm floor carefully: the four triangles must be identical.
- Score each crease with a ruler and a dull pencil point before folding.
- Draw a pattern on the star before folding, and it shows on the four faces.
Your model is ready
The pyramid is closed. Tie a ribbon round it, or tape one corner edge. Lift one triangle to open it. The finished pyramid, on its square floor with its four faces meeting at the point.
Step-by-step diagrams
- 1
Crease the top edge of the floor
Fold the card up along the top edge of the floor. Press the crease and open it flat.
- 2
Crease the bottom edge of the floor
Fold the card up along the bottom edge of the floor. Press the crease and open it flat.
- 3
Crease the left edge of the floor
Fold the card up along the left edge of the floor. Press the crease and open it flat.
- 4
Crease the right edge of the floor
Fold the card up along the right edge of the floor. Press the crease and open it flat.
- 5
Cut the top left notch
Cut from the point of the left triangle, at the middle of the left edge, in to the floor's top left corner, and out to the point of the top triangle, at the middle of the top edge. The corner lifts away.
- 6
Cut the top right notch
Cut from the top triangle's point in to the floor's top right corner and out to the point of the right triangle.
- 7
Cut the bottom right notch
Cut from the right triangle's point in to the floor's bottom right corner and out to the point of the bottom triangle.
- 8
Cut the bottom left notch
Cut from the bottom triangle's point in to the floor's bottom left corner and out to the point of the left triangle. You are left with a star: a square floor with a triangle on each side.
- 9
Lean the four triangles in
Lean all four triangles in over the floor, a little more than upright, until their points meet above its middle and their edges touch along the pyramid's corners.
- ✓
Finish
The pyramid is closed. Tie a ribbon round it, or tape one corner edge. Lift one triangle to open it. The finished pyramid, on its square floor with its four faces meeting at the point.
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.