OrigamiSteps

How to Make an Origami Shark

Published

Let’s start folding
Finished origami shark, showing the shape made in this tutorial

Turn a square of everyday paper into an origami shark with a pointed tail and a raised dorsal fin. This easy cut-and-fold version uses two short snips, so keep scissors nearby and help young folders with the cutting. Start with a six-inch square cut from printer or notebook paper. Plain paper works well; color is optional, and a small drawn eye finishes the face.

One fold at a time

Take your time. A neat crease makes the next fold easier.

  1. Step 1: Make the first guide

    origami shark step 1: fold the top corner onto the bottom corner to make a horizontal guide, hands visible

    Fold the top corner onto the bottom corner; press the crease, then open the paper.

  2. Step 2: Cross the center

    origami shark step 2: bring the left corner to the right corner to make a vertical guide, hands visible

    Bring the left corner to the right corner; crease firmly, then open the square.

  3. Step 3: Shape the right side

    origami shark step 3: fold the upper-right sloping edge inward to the vertical center crease, hands visible

    Fold the upper-right sloping edge inward until it meets the vertical center crease.

  4. Step 4: Complete the kite

    origami shark step 4: fold the upper-left sloping edge to the center to complete a narrow kite, hands visible

    Fold the upper-left sloping edge to the same center crease, making a long kite.

  5. Step 5: Mark the long fold

    origami shark step 5: bring the narrow top tip to the bottom tip and reopen the kite, hands visible

    Bring the narrow top tip to the bottom tip; crease, then open it back up.

  6. Step 6: Add the middle guide

    origami shark step 6: bring the narrow top tip to the bottom edge of the folded flaps, hands visible

    Bring the narrow top tip to the bottom edge of the folded flaps; crease and reopen.

  7. Step 7: Mark the tail guide

    origami shark step 7: fold the narrow top tip to the crease from step 5 and reopen, hands visible

    Fold the narrow top tip down to the crease from Step 5; press, then reopen.

  8. Step 8: Release the dorsal fin

    origami shark step 8: cut only the lower-right folded flap along its diagonal crease and open the triangle rightward, hands visible

    Cut the lower-right folded flap along its diagonal crease toward the center; open the freed triangle to the right.

  9. Step 9: Separate the tail tips

    origami shark step 9: snip the narrow top tip to the nearest horizontal guide and fold both tail tips outward, hands visible

    Snip the top tip along the center crease to the nearest horizontal guide; fold the two tips outward.

  10. Step 10: Turn the body

    origami shark step 10: rotate the paper clockwise one quarter turn with the split tail pointing right, hands visible

    Rotate the paper clockwise a quarter turn, placing the split tail on the right.

  11. Step 11: Close the shark

    origami shark step 11: fold the lower half behind the upper half and keep the dorsal fin above the body, hands visible

    Fold the lower half behind the upper half along the long center crease, keeping the dorsal triangle above the body.

  12. Step 12: Fan out the tail

    origami shark step 12: fold the nearer tail tip down at its base to separate the tail lobes, hands visible

    Fold the nearer tail tip downward at its base so the two tail points spread apart.

  13. Step 13: Finish the face

    origami shark step 13: draw a small eye and curved gill near the broad left head and press the body flat, hands visible

    Draw a small eye and a curved gill near the broad left end; press the body flat.

Try something else

More easy folds for your next sheet.

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