Origami Boat - How to Make a Paper Boat That Actually Floats

Learn how to make an origami boat by following our step-by-step instructions. Your kids will enjoy making and sailing their paper boats and watching them float in the sink or in the great outdoors!

An A4 piece of paper

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).

Fold the top right corner into the centre.

Fold the top left corner into the centre.

Fold the top layer of the bottom rectangle up

Flip your paper over and fold the bottom rectangle up.

Fold the 4 Side Corners Inward

Pick up the paper, holding the flat edge and with the pointed end facing down. Push the left and right side together to open the piece of paper into a diamond shape. Continue to push the opposite sides together until they are flat against each other and a diamond shape is made.

Fold the bottom point up to the top point on one side. 

Flip the paper over. Fold the bottom point up to the top point.

Pick up the piece of paper by the flat edge, with the pointed end facing down. Push the left and right ends of the paper together as before, to make a diamond shape. Press flat.

Pinch the top two points of the diamond and gently pull them apart. Use your thumb to press along the bottom edge.

Push the opposite end of your boat to give it shape and use your fingers to form a pyramid shape in the middle.

Your origami boat is now ready to sail! Bring it to the nearest pond. A puddle left over from the next big rain shower will also work fine.