Learn how to fold an origami boat to play with as a paper pirate ship, sail in the water, or as an ocean learning activity.

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This paper boat is a fun origami craft for kids. It has a few steps that are tricky, but once your kids have made one boat, they’ll probably want to make a whole fleet of them.

Paper boats are fun for sailing in the bathtub, sink, swimming pool, or water table. You can take them to the park to test on a pond, but be careful your boat doesn’t float out of reach. (Always be safe and supervise children around water of any amount.)

If you want to stay on dry land, try sailing your boat on a blue towel or blanket.

We can’t talk about boats without mentioning pirates. This would be a fun hands-on activity for a day or week of pirate activities!

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Origami boat tips

The best paper to use for an origami boat is something thick so that it holds shape.
This origami boat can float on real water; it will sink or fall apart if it gets too wet all over.
To make your boat more waterproof, you’ll need to coat it with a clear sealant like outdoor Mod Podge.
If you want your boat to hold weight (like an action figure) you’ll need to make it pretty large or use something heavier, like cardboard. The best way to figure out what works is to make several boats and test them!
Decorate your boat with markers or make a tiny flag by wrapping a piece of washi tape around one end of a toothpick.

Brown paper boat with a tiny striped flag sitting on a blue striped rug.

How to make an origami boat

Supplies

large rectangular piece of kraft paper, newspaper, etc.
optional decorations: pens, markers, stickers, toothpicks, washi tape

Instructions

1. Crease the center lines.

Lay the paper down with the longer side horizontal. Fold it in half in both directions to make 4 sections and crease the lines.

2. Fold the top corners.

Unfold the paper, then refold along the shorter crease. Turn the paper so that the folded side is at the top (away from you) and then fold down each top corner to make a triangle.

Brown paper with top corners folded into a point.

3. Fold up the bottom edge.

Take the bottom flap and fold it all the way up so that it lines up with the bottom of the triangle.

Brown paper with bottom flap folded up over a triangle.

4. Flip and fold the edge.

Turn the boat over. Take those small side triangles and fold them down. Then take the bottom flap and fold it all the way up so that it lines up with the bottom of the triangle.

Brown paper folded into a triangle with tiny triangle flaps folded over from the other side.

Brown paper folded into a rectangle with a triangle point at the top.

5. Rotate and flatten the boat.

For this next step, open the bottom of the paper boat with your thumbs (not unlike a paper pirate hat). Open it all the way and flatten it in the opposite direction. The corners that were across from each other for the previous steps are now touching.

Brown paper square creased along folded edges.

6. Fold triangles up.

Now fold the bottom half up to line up with the top. Flip it over and repeat on the other side. You should have a nice triangle.

Brown paper square folded into a triangle on one side.

7. Rotate and flatten again.

This step is similar to step 5, except your paper is even smaller. Open the bottom of the paper boat with your thumbs and pull the paper all the way apart. Smooth the paper flat with those corners that were together now opposite.

Brown paper square with a seam down the center.

8. Open the boat.

Pick up the boat with the opening facing up. Carefully pull those corners apart and the center up. Shape the boat as you go. You’ll probably need to adjust the height of the sides of the boat. Pinch and crease as needed to hold the shape.

Unfolding the top of the brown paper boat.

An origami boat made from folded brown paper.

A paper origami boat with a washi tape flag sitting on a blue striped rug on the floor.

Printable instructions