How to Fold an Origami Box
Traditional Masu

The traditional origami box, the masu, may have originated as a way to measure rice.

You can make a masu from origami paper or any of the other beautiful papers available.

Everything in this box pile was made from scrapbook paper or colored photocopy paper. The red lid is photocopy paper.

See the tiny box on the lid on the right? It looks like a pull knob. It's actually a little masu that opens, too - like a secret compartment! We just glued it on and decorated it with a flower cut from a scrap.

When you give someone a gift in a homemade origami box, it becomes two gifts in one...and truly unique. A box alone is a beautiful gift.

On this page, our origami artist and instructor, Barb, shares her tips for making a beautiful, sturdy origami box. Have fun!

Materials

One piece of perfectly square paper for the box bottom.

If you want a lid, another piece of perfectly square paper.

If you want the lid to completely cover the box bottom, use a piece the same size as the one for the bottom.

If you want a lid that allows the sides of the box bottom to show, use a piece smaller than the one for the bottom.

For example, for the large boxes in the photo above, I used a piece of 12-inch square scrapbook paper for the box bottoms. The box lids are from 8½-inch squares. This makes a box 4¼ inches square by about 2 inches tall.

The small green box in the photo is made from two pieces of 8-inch square paper. This makes a box almost 3 inches square and 1½ inches tall.

To make the box really sturdy, you'll need some thin cardboard, such as from a cereal box. You need enough to cut one piece the size of the bottom, and four pieces for the sides. You can reinforce the lid the same way.

1. Start with the paper white side up. Fold in half, side to side. I'm using a piece of 8-inch square scrapbook paper.
2. Unfold. Fold in half again, top to bottom.
3. Unfold. Fold a corner exactly to the middle point. Carefully align the edges of the triangle with the creases you made previously.
4. Fold the other three corners the same way. This is called a blintz fold. (If you came here from other instructions, click your browser's Back button to return.)
5. Fold one side exactly to the middle point. Align the sides of the flap with the sides of the main part, as indicated by the arrows. Crease well. Unfold and repeat on the other three sides. Tip: You now have all the creases that are needed for the finished box. For best results, do not make any new creases!
6. Unfold two opposite corners.
7. Fold in two opposite sides - on existing creases - and re-crease.
8. Turn the piece to put one of the corners toward you. Open the sides into final position (approximately). Grab with both hands as shown in the first photo. Bring the points of the two triangular sections together (arrows). The box will come up on end. Viewed from an angle, it looks like this:	Be sure to use the existing creases. There should be two neat triangles, with no white side showing, where indicated by the arrows above.
9. Brace the bottom of the box with one hand. With the other hand, lift the corner flap and push it into the box. Tip: Notice the arrow in the second photo. It's pointing to the existing crease that should be exactly at the top of this edge of the box. If it's not, try a technique that I call "coin rubbing." My thumb is pushing the paper into the box (the same direction as the arrow), while the fingers underneath are pulling in the opposite direction. Once you are satisfied with this side of the box, use a creasing tool all around the edges. This makes an especially nice, neat box.
10. Repeat Steps 8 and 9 on the remaining side.
11. Crease everything well...and you did it! To make your origami box really sturdy, add cardboard inserts: Carefully measure the bottom and sides and cut pieces of thin cardboard. Cut them a tiny bit smaller than what you measured! Unfold the box and add the cardboard pieces as you refold. It's amazing what a difference it makes!
12. For the lid, fold the paper the same until Step 5. You need to make the lid a tiny bit bigger than the bottom. Do this by folding the sides not quite all the way to the center. About 1/8-inch short of the center usually works for thicker papers. Making a lid that fits snugly, but not so snugly that the sides buckle, can be tricky. If you don't like how the lid fits, try rotating it a quarter turn.
13. Here's how to make a lid that allows the sides of the box bottom to show. I started with a box bottom made from an 8-inch square. I used a sheet of regular 6-inch origami paper to make the lid. A flower made by one of my students was the perfect finishing touch for this origami box.
14. After folding the top through Step 4 (the blintz fold), set the box bottom on it. I'm using the fingers of my left hand to hold the box bottom exactly aligned with the upper left corner of the lid piece. Use your right hand to fold the edge to the side of the box, but not too tightly. Leave a little "breathing room."	Just make a soft crease at this step.
15. Set the box bottom aside. Align the sides of the flap with the edges of the main part, as indicated by the arrows. Crease well.
16. Repeat Steps 14 and 15 on the other three sides. Tip: Here's a way to fold the remaining three sides without using the box bottom: Notice the intersection of the cut edges with the new crease. This is the point through which you will fold each remaining side, working your way around the piece.
17. Finish folding the lid the same way beginning at Step 8. It might seem different or trickier because the sides are so narrow. Just remember: Use the existing creases. Have fun making more origami boxes. Practice makes perfect!