Origami Koi Fish - How to Make

Learn how to make origami koi fish with these detailed step by step guide and video. With simple paper folding techniques, you can make these pretty paper fish in just a few minutes!

These easy origami koi fish are made using rectangle sheets of paper. Each fish requires a single sheet of colored paper measuring 10 cm by 15 cm. The paper should ideally be double sided. I made mine with a sheet that is red on one side and yellow on another. The completed origami fish is made up of both colors. If you prefer your origami koi fish to in a single color, choose a paper that is of the same color on both sides.

Each completed origami koi fish measure 12.5cm long (with the tails stretched out straight) and 6.5cm wide (the widest part of the fish, ie at the fins).

These origami koi fish are a great paper craft idea. Make them in different sizes and colors and enjoy!

How to Make Origami Koi Fish

Video Tutorial

Here's my detailed video tutorial on how to make the koi paper fish. The full list of supplies and step by step written guide follows right below that.

Supplies

• One sheet of square origami paper (measuring 10 cm by 15cm).
• Glue

Instructions:

For easy reference, I have broken down this paper fish craft tutorial into 14 steps.

Cutting the paper

If you are using a square piece of paper to make the origami koi fish, you need to cut it into a rectangle. I used a 15cm by 15cm square sheet and cut it into 10cm by 15cm.

1. Measure and mark the 10cm point on both edges of the square paper.
2. Fold it along the markings.
3. Use a paper knife to cut the paper at the fold. Discard the smaller cut out section.
4. This is how the larger section of the cut paper should look like.

Making the folds

1. Fold the paper into half, horizontally.
2. Fold the folded paper into half again, horizontally.
3. Unfold.
4. Fold the top corner into a triangle.
5. Repeat with the other corner.
6. Unfold.

Folding the base of the origami koi fish body

1. Bring both sides of the rectangle paper to the center, horizontally. Fold and press the along the lines that were folded in the steps above.
2. Fold both the top corners into a triangle.
3. Next, fold the pointed end of the triangle towards the other end of the rectangle.
4. Lift and open the corners up as shown.

Making the paper fish fins

1. Turn the folded paper over.
2. Fold the extended sections of the paper towards the center line.
3. This is how it should look like.
4. Fold open the first flap.
5. Repeat with the second.
6. Turn the folded paper over.

Dividing the body and the tail

1. Fold the folded rectangle into half, ending the fold at the base of the folded fins.
2. Unfold.

Shaping the body of the paper fish (Part 1)

1. Fold a diagonal line on body section of the folded paper. Unfold.
2. This is how the line should look like.
3. Bring the folded line to the center of the rectangle and press it down.
4. This is how it should look like.

Shaping the body of the paper fish (Part 2)

1. Repeat the same process as the step above. Start by folding a diagonal line on the body section of the origami koi fish.
2. This is how it should look like.
3. Bring the folded line to the center of the rectangle.
4. Press it down firmly.

Completing the fish body

1. Bring the folded line on the left to the center.
2. Repeat the same for the right. This steps completes the body of the origami koi fish. Next is the tail.

Forming the tail

1. Once you have completed the body, place the fish down as shown.
2. Fold the top most piece of paper in the tail section as shown.
3. Do the same for the next section of the tail.
4. Turn the fish to the other side and fold the remaining one section of the tail down.

Folding the tail (Part 1)

1. Hold the fish in your hands and open up the tail. This is how it should look like after the folding steps above.
2. Push the middle section of the tail down along the lines folded earlier.
3. Press the tail to close. You will see the excess of the folded down paper at the bottom.
4. Fold the access up as shown.
5. Open up the tail, and push the folded section up as shown.
6. Press the tail to close again. You will see a tiny triangle excess of the paper you folded in the earlier step.

Folding the tail (Part 2)

1. Press the triangle section down.
2. Open up the tail again. Push the folded triangle down.
3. Press the tail close firmly along all the folded lines.
4. Open the tail. This is how it should look like.

Completing the tail

1. Next steps are to tidy the sides of the tail. Place the fish down. Fold the sides of the tail up as shown.
2. Repeat on the other side as well.
3. This is how the folded sides should look like.
4. Press the tail to bend at the end of the body.

Folding the origami koi fish face

1. Fold a small triangle at the corner of the fish's face.
2. Do the same on the other side. This is how the back of the face should look like after folding. And that completes all the folding steps to make the origami paper fish.

Gluing the body (optional)

The final step is to glue the body. This is an optional step if you want to keep the folded paper, especially the body part, intact.

1. Start by opening up the folds and applying glue to the top section of the body.
2. Fold the paper to stick as shown.
3. Next, apply glue to the inner section of the body.
4. Bring all the folds together to form the body and hold it in place for a few seconds to allow the glue to dry.

Options

Paper size

• This origami koi fish is best made in a rectangle piece of paper with a ratio of 2:3. That means, the length of the vertical side of the paper should be two thirds of its horizontal length. For example, if you are using a standard origami paper measuring 15cm by 15cm, cut the paper into 15cm by 10cm.
• This proportion will enable you to make your origami paper fish to the same size and proportion as shown in this guide.
• You can choose to make larger or smaller fishes and it is advisable to keep the proportion of the length and width of the paper you use to the same as mentioned above.

Colors and patterns

• This paper fish craft is best made on a double sided (colored) paper. Both sides of the paper will show on the finished fish.
• If you prefer the fish to be in the same color use a paper with the same color on both sides. If you prefer to make the fish in dual colors as shown in this tutorial, choose a paper that is dual colored.
• You can also make the fish in patterned paper if you like.

Like this origami koi fish guide? Here are my other craft guide you might want to check out:

• How to Make Seed Bead Earrings
• Teardrop Beaded Earrings
• How to Make Beaded Hoop Earrings

Happy Crafting 🙂