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How to make an easy origami duck

Make this beautiful origami duck following our step-by-step origami tutorial! Grab a piece of 15 x 15cm paper and fold your own origami duck.

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Holly Spanner

Published: July 17, 2023 at 7:00 am

Learn how to make an origami duck with our easy-to-follow step-by-step photo tutorial! This easy origami model captures a duck as he’s splashing around in the pond, or, if you prefer, fold the wings down so that he’s swimming around peacefully, without a care in the world. This model will actually float on water, too!

We have plenty of other bird origami tutorials too, if you want to try something different.

What do I need to create an origami duck?

You really only need some origami paper and your hands! (And our easy tutorial of course). This project works well with double-sided origami paper, with a different colour or pattern on each side. This means when you fold, using our tutorial below, you will showcase both sides of the origami paper.

Buy some beautiful origami paper!

Buy now: £5.63, Amazon

This origami paper pack features eight different bird prints reproduced from Japanese woodblocks in the ukiyo-e style of art, each with a coordinating solid colour on the reverse. The paper is slightly larger, 20 x 20cm, so you can use it for more complicated designs, too. The bird illustrations are gorgeous, and although you only get 48 sheets in a pack, we think it's worth the money - just look at the mandarin ducks!

How to make an origami duck

You will need:

Origami paper

Step 1

Start with a 15 x 15cm piece of square paper. For the purpose of this tutorial, we are using a double-sided sheet of paper which is orange on one side and yellow on the other. Fold in half along the diagonal.

How to make an origami duck – step 1d

Step 2

Fold one side of the paper up, leaving a 15mm (1.5cm) pleat at the top.

How to make an origami duck – step 2

Step 3

Fold the paper in half along the vertical and re-open.

How to make an origami duck – step 3a

Step 4

Fold one side down to meet the vertical crease you just made in the previous step.

How to make an origami duck – step 4

Step 5

Fold the tip up as shown.

How to make an origami duck – step 5

Step 6

Repeat for the other side – fold the other side down to meet the vertical crease.

How to make an origami duck – step 6

Step 7

Fold the tip up to mirror the other side.

How to make an origami duck – step 7

Step 8

Turn the model over. Fold a small triangle down at the top (about 2cm).

How to make an origami duck – step 8a

Step 9

Fold the tip of the triangle up again, making a small pleat. This will be the duck’s beak! This bit may be a little fiddly due to the small size of the beak, so using a cocktail stick may help.

How to make an origami duck – step 9

Step 10

Fold the model in half. Rotate the model 90 degrees anti-clockwise.

How to make an origami duck – step 10a

Step 11

Fold the two wings either side up – you can fold them down again later, but we need the wings out the way to make the neck in the next step.

Step 12

Fold the neck up so that it sits at a 90-degree angle to the body. Open the model up as you fold the neck up, so that there is a piece of neck either side of the body. This is called an outside reverse fold.

Step 13

Fold the points on the bottom of your origami duck inwards. This will allow your duck to sit up by itself (or float if you decide to put it in water!).

Step 14

Fold the head down, using another outside reverse fold, so that it is positioned at a 90-degree angle to the neck. The two sides of the head should sit either side of the head.

Step 15

Manipulate the beak so that it points upwards. To do this, gently pull it into position, then crisp the creases using a bone folder or ruler.

Step 16

Fold the tail down, so that it lines up with the edge of the wing.

Step 17

Open up the tail to reveal a square-diamond shape.

Step 18

Fold the bottom of this square diamond up, aligning the bottom edge with the top edge (i.e., fold in half along the horizontal).

Step 19

Fold the tail back on itself by folding in half along the vertical.

Step 20

Pull the tail up and out (go gently), then press the creases to secure in place.

Step 21

Tidy up your origami duck’s derriere by folding each side inwards.

Step 22

Finally, fold the wings down (or leave them up if you prefer) to complete your origami duck!

How to make an origami duck - step 22a

Origami penguin

Fold our beautiful penguin origami with our easy-to-follow guide.

Beautiful origami paper to buy!

1. Handmade origami paper

Buy now: £14.00, Amazon

Handmade origami paper – image 1, Amazon

Okay – so you’ve practised a model, and now you want to make a special one? Perhaps as a gift, or to make a topper on the front of a card? Well, this handmade paper is perfect for when you want to create something a little more special.

2. Double-sided origami paper

Buy now: £8.45, Amazon

How to make an origami crane

This is the origami paper we used for the steps photos – it’s great, because not only is it double-sided, but the sides are different colours so it really adds a little bit extra to those designs where you see both sides of the paper. Plus it comes as a loose leaf, which is handy.

3. Botanical origami paper

Buy now: £6.79, Amazon

Origami for beginners

This collection of botanical-inspired origami paper features beautiful designs of leaves and feathers in a palette of greens and blues. We love the peacock feathers! If you want more peacock-inspired prints, why not download our free peacock pintables – just be sure to cut into squares before folding this origami duck.

4. Metallic origami paper

Buy now: £4.97, Amazon

Metallic origami paper

This metallic collection of origami papers features 10 different colours, with a pearly, iridescent finish. For simple designs this paper is great – and we think this paper would look great for our origami duck!

How to make an origami duck – completed origami duck, image 5

Dive into origami

Create this elegant origami duck to add to your collection! With your favourite papers and just a few simple folds, you can create these pretty birds!

Take flight with our origami birds

Get stuck into more origami with our beautiful origami birds, where you’ll find easy-to-follow instructions for each one, including a graceful penguin, a peaceful dove, a pretty hummingbird and much more!

origami-birds

Holly Spanner

Staff Writer, BBC Science Focus

Holly is the Staff Writer for BBC Science Focus and looks after the popular Q&A section. She holds an MSc (distinction) in Geoscience (Space and Climate Physics) from UCL, and specialises in astronomy and earth sciences. Before joining Our Media, she worked as a geoenvironmental consultant and engineer, informing on ground risk and remediation in the north of England, while hunting for exoplanets in her spare time. Alongside this, she was regional editor of a popular theatre website for nine years, and has a solid background in curating and developing content for the digital space. Holly is also an artist and illustrator, and regular contributor to the craft website, Gathered. She has previously worked with the RSPB, English Heritage, Disney, Pilot and Brother, as well as on BBC Good Food magazine, Home Style magazine, and Papercraft inspirations magazine. She enjoys photography and has a sustained interest in antiques.

How to make an easy origami duck

What do I need to create an origami duck?

Buy some beautiful origami paper!

How to make an origami duck

You will need:

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Step 4

Step 5

Step 6

Step 7

Step 8

Step 9

Step 10

Step 11

Step 12

Step 13

Step 14

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Step 21

Step 22

Origami penguin

Beautiful origami paper to buy!

1. Handmade origami paper

2. Double-sided origami paper

3. Botanical origami paper

4. Metallic origami paper

Dive into origami

Take flight with our origami birds

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