How to Make a Paper Plane

The classic dart is the simplest paper plane that still flies well. It needs one sheet of paper, no tape and no scissors. This tutorial walks you through folding it, then shows you how to tune it so it flies straight and far.

Time: about 5 minutes
Difficulty: easy

By the end you will have:

1. A folded dart-style paper plane
2. A plane with balanced wings
3. A few simple adjustments for better flights

What you need

• 1 sheet of A4 or US Letter paper (standard printer paper works best)
• A flat surface, such as a table
• Your fingernail or a ruler to sharpen the creases (optional)

note

Slightly heavier paper (80 gsm) flies steadier than thin notebook paper. Avoid very thick card, which is too heavy to glide.

Step 1: Fold the paper in half

1. Place the paper on the table with the long edge facing you.
2. Fold it in half lengthwise, bringing the two long edges together.
3. Press the crease firmly, then unfold the paper.

You now have a centre line down the middle. This line keeps every later fold symmetrical.

Step 2: Fold the top corners to the centre

1. Take the top-left corner and fold it down so the top edge lines up with the centre line.
2. Repeat with the top-right corner.
3. Press both creases flat.

The top of the paper should now look like a pointed roof, or a triangle.

tip

Make the two folds mirror each other. Uneven corners are the most common reason a plane veers to one side.

Step 3: Fold the new edges to the centre again

1. Fold the slanted left edge in toward the centre line so it lies along the middle.
2. Repeat on the right side.
3. Crease firmly.

The nose is now narrower and sharper, and the plane has a long, slim shape.

Step 4: Fold the plane in half

1. Carefully fold the whole plane in half along the original centre line, with the folds you just made on the outside.
2. Line up the edges and press the crease flat along the bottom.

Step 5: Fold down the wings

1. Rest the plane on its side, with the long folded edge at the bottom.
2. Fold the top wing down so its upper edge is level with the bottom edge of the body.
3. Flip the plane over and repeat for the other wing.
4. Press both wing creases firmly.

Open the wings out so they sit flat and level, forming a slight "V" shape when viewed from the front.

Step 6: Check the shape

Hold the plane from the front and from above. Look for:

• Wings at the same angle on both sides
• A straight nose with no bends
• A centre body that is not twisted

If anything looks uneven, gently unfold and re-crease that section.

Step 7: Launch

1. Hold the plane under the body, a third of the way back from the nose.
2. Aim slightly upward, about 10 to 15 degrees.
3. Throw it forward in a smooth, medium-strength motion. Do not throw too hard.

caution

Don't throw the plane at people's faces. Check the space around you first, especially outdoors or in a classroom.

Tuning your plane

Small adjustments change how the plane flies.

Problem	Likely cause	Fix
Dives straight to the ground	Nose too heavy	Bend the back edges of the wings up slightly (elevators)
Climbs, stalls, then drops	Nose too light or thrown too steeply	Throw flatter, or fold the nose tip over once
Veers left	Left wing is angled differently	Bend the back edge of the right wing up a little, or re-fold the left wing
Veers right	Right wing is angled differently	Bend the back edge of the left wing up a little, or re-fold the right wing
Wobbles in the air	Wings not symmetrical	Re-crease both wings so they match

Variations

• Longer glide. Make the wings wider by folding them down a little less in Step 5.
• Faster dart. Make the nose longer by repeating Step 3 once more before folding in half.
• Stunt plane. Fold the wing tips up about 1 cm to make small winglets that help the plane stay stable.
• Decorate it. Draw patterns or colours on the paper before folding. Keep the decoration light, since heavy ink or stickers add weight.

Tips for better flights

• Use sharp creases. Run a fingernail along every fold.
• Fly the plane indoors first to test it in still air, then try outdoors on a calm day.
• Test a few throws, changing one thing at a time, so you know which adjustment made the difference.
• Make several planes from different paper types and compare.

Next steps

• Try a wider glider design that flies slower and stays in the air longer.
• Hold a friendly contest for the longest flight or the best-looking plane.