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Flapping Bat
Make broad bat wings, a narrow central body and two small tucked side tabs from one whole sheet.
Preparation + 33 numbered steps
Materials
US Letter, landscape · 11 × 8.5 inches
One US Letter sheet, 11 × 8½ inches, a ruler and a pencil for light guide marks. No cuts, glue, tape or added weights. Flexible paper is easier to crease than card; paper weight has not been tested here. Use Letter, not an untrimmed A4 sheet.
Follow along
PreparationThe interactive guide needs JavaScript. You can always read every illustrated step below.
Help · controls & diagram
Action steps start at 0%: play or scrub to see the action. At 100% it is complete. Drag the diagram to turn the view; this does not make a crease.
Blue and gold identify the original left and right halves of one sheet, even after turning it over. Darker shades show the reverse. Orange outlines identify moving layers; dashed orange marks the active hinge. Solid panel edges are not extra creases to make. Camera buttons change only your view. Drawings are not full-size templates.
The diagonal precreases fold and unfold. The rectangular collapse couples six connected panels; it does not shrink the sheet. Later folds move the named packets around hinges, including the body roots and the separate outer tips and lower tabs. Turnover steps rotate the entire packet. Camera buttons and dragging change only the view. The ¼-inch body width and flat-wing display angles are authored teaching choices. Blue/gold original-material identities remain unchanged.
With the diagram focused: Space plays or pauses, ←/→ change steps, and Home resets. Other controls retain their native keyboard behavior. Sources & validation notes
Every step, at a glance
These are end-state diagrams: compare your paper after each action. Blue and gold identify the original left and right halves of one sheet, even after turning it over. Darker shades show the reverse. Orange outlines identify moving layers; dashed orange marks the active hinge. Solid panel edges are not extra creases to make. Camera buttons change only your view. Drawings are not full-size templates. All steps remain readable without JavaScript.
- 0. Prepare a landscape rectangle
- 1. Crease from A to C
- 2. Open the first diagonal
- 3. Crease from B to D
- 4. Open the second diagonal
- 5. Turn the sheet over
- 6. Make the crosswise precrease
- 7. Open the crosswise fold
- 8. Turn back for the collapse
- 9. Close the six-panel base
- 10. Transfer the upper right flap
- 11. Bring the transferred point to O
- 12. Return the shortened right flap
- 13. Transfer the upper left flap
- 14. Bring the second point to O
- 15. Return the shortened left flap
- 16. Fold the nose down
- 17. Turn the nose point back up
- 18. Turn to the plain face
- 19. Close the central body
- 20. Fold the first wing outward
- 21. Turn over for the other wing
- 22. Fold the second wing outward
- 23. Raise the first wing
- 24. Raise the second wing
- 25. Level the wings for the outer folds
- 26. Fold the right outer edge inward
- 27. Fold the left outer edge inward
- 28. Turn to the lower tabs
- 29. Tuck the right doubled tab
- 30. Tuck the left doubled tab
- 31. Reopen the right outer tip
- 32. Reopen the left outer tip
- 33. Check the finished bat
PREPARATION · Letter-paper bat
Prepare a landscape rectangle
Place an 11 × 8½-inch Letter sheet with its long edges horizontal. Name the top-left corner A, top-right B, bottom-right C and bottom-left D. The center is O; L and R are the midpoints of the short edges. These names stay with the original paper after turning it over.
Layers: One whole, flat sheet.
Check: The sheet is wider than it is tall. Mark the corners lightly if helpful.
Explore this step ↑STEP 1 · Letter-paper bat
Crease from A to C
Make a straight fold through A and C. Lift the side containing B over the diagonal; A and C stay on the hinge. Do not force B to touch D or try to align the whole outer edges.
Layers: The half containing B moves; the other half stays on the table.
Check: The crease runs exactly between A and C. The free corners remain offset.
Explore this step ↑STEP 2 · Letter-paper bat
Open the first diagonal
Open the sheet back to its landscape rectangle, keeping the A–C crease.
Layers: Undo only the fold just made.
Check: All four original corners are back on the table.
Explore this step ↑STEP 3 · Letter-paper bat
Crease from B to D
Fold straight through B and D. Move the side containing C across this second diagonal, leaving B and D fixed. Again, the other corners need not meet.
Layers: One side of the second diagonal moves as a whole.
Check: This crease crosses the first at the center O.
Explore this step ↑STEP 4 · Letter-paper bat
Open the second diagonal
Return the paper to the flat rectangle.
Layers: Undo the second diagonal fold.
Check: An X joins the four original corners.
Explore this step ↑STEP 5 · Letter-paper bat
Turn the sheet over
Lift and turn over the whole sheet without adding a crease. Keep the long edges horizontal.
Layers: The entire sheet turns together.
Check: The opposite material face is now uppermost. Original corner names have not changed.
Explore this step ↑STEP 6 · Letter-paper bat
Make the crosswise precrease
Fold one long edge onto the other, through the middle of both short edges. This fold bends the opposite way to the diagonal creases.
Layers: The original upper half moves as one piece.
Check: The crease joins L and R through O. The long edges align.
Explore this step ↑STEP 7 · Letter-paper bat
Open the crosswise fold
Unfold to a rectangle, retaining the new center crease.
Layers: Undo only the crosswise fold.
Check: There are two diagonals and one line across the short-edge midpoints.
Explore this step ↑STEP 8 · Letter-paper bat
Turn back for the collapse
Turn the complete sheet back to its first face.
Layers: All the paper turns together; no new fold.
Check: The original A and B corners are at the upper edge again.
Explore this step ↑STEP 9 · Letter-paper bat
Close the six-panel base
Hold the lower central triangle flat. Lift the upper edge and guide both side midpoints inward as the upper central triangle closes onto the lower one. Let the side triangles hinge along the precreases. Flatten gently when the top and bottom long edges meet.
Layers: The two central triangles and four side triangles stay connected. Do not pull one side free.
Check: A broad triangle has two projecting tabs below its base. L and R do not meet the bottom midpoint; do not force them there.
Explore this step ↑STEP 10 · Letter-paper bat
Transfer the upper right flap
Find the crease from O to the projecting right midpoint R. Swing the upper right flap across that crease to the left. Leave the lower triangle on the table.
Layers: Move the upper central triangle’s right portion and its attached upper side triangle.
Check: A new long point projects down-left; the lower right corner remains in place.
Explore this step ↑STEP 11 · Letter-paper bat
Bring the transferred point to O
Lift the new down-left point to O and crease halfway between them. Let the small connected tab at R fold with it.
Layers: Move the transferred flap and the connected lower-side tab together, not the entire triangular base.
Check: The long point meets O. The small tab is not pulled apart from the flap.
Explore this step ↑STEP 12 · Letter-paper bat
Return the shortened right flap
Swing only the part of the transferred flap still on the left of O–R back to the right. Keep its new point fold closed. Leave the small folded lower tab in place.
Layers: Return the shortened upper flap; do not reverse the whole earlier transfer.
Check: The right side has a lower point and an inward notch. The left projecting tab is still unchanged.
Explore this step ↑STEP 13 · Letter-paper bat
Transfer the upper left flap
Use the matching crease from O to L. Bring the upper left flap across to the right, leaving the lower base in place.
Layers: Move the upper left side triangle and the attached, untouched part of the upper central triangle.
Check: A long point now projects down-right. The completed right flap stays put.
Explore this step ↑STEP 14 · Letter-paper bat
Bring the second point to O
Fold the new down-right point up to O. Include the small connected tab at L.
Layers: The transferred left flap and its connected lower-side tab move together.
Check: The point meets O without tearing or stretching the side junction.
Explore this step ↑STEP 15 · Letter-paper bat
Return the shortened left flap
Swing the shortened flap back left, keeping its point fold closed. Leave the small lower tab where the previous fold put it.
Layers: Move only the transferred portion still across O–L.
Check: Both sides now have matching lower points and inward notches.
Explore this step ↑STEP 16 · Letter-paper bat
Fold the nose down
Bring O down to the midpoint of the original long baseline. Crease across the packet halfway between them.
Layers: Include every overlapping layer in the upper pointed region.
Check: The old apex reaches the middle of the baseline, and the new shoulder edge is horizontal.
Explore this step ↑STEP 17 · Letter-paper bat
Turn the nose point back up
The folded nose is 2⅛ inches deep. Mark a line one third of that depth, about 17⁄24 inch, below its upper shoulder crease. Fold the pointed part upward on this parallel line.
Layers: Move only the already folded nose packet below the new line.
Check: A short central point projects about 17⁄24 inch above the shoulder edge. The broad wings stay flat.
Explore this step ↑STEP 18 · Letter-paper bat
Turn to the plain face
Turn over the entire packet so the smoother wing face is uppermost.
Layers: Do not open the nose folds.
Check: The nose remains centered and the two lower side points remain visible.
Explore this step ↑STEP 19 · Letter-paper bat
Close the central body
Close the two wings together on the vertical centerline. In the diagram the original left half moves; after the turnover it is on your right. Fold it toward the plain face.
Layers: Move one complete half, including all its layers.
Check: The wing outlines meet, with a straight center fold along the narrow body.
Explore this step ↑STEP 20 · Letter-paper bat
Fold the first wing outward
Measure ¼ inch from the center fold across the closed packet. Mark a parallel line. Fold the outer complete wing away from the other wing on that line, leaving the narrow body strip closed.
Layers: Move the outside wing packet only. Do not fold both wings together.
Check: There is a ¼-inch strip between the center fold and this wing root. This width is our authored adaptation.
Explore this step ↑STEP 21 · Letter-paper bat
Turn over for the other wing
Turn the entire packet over to expose the wing that has not yet been folded at its root.
Layers: Keep the first wing-root fold closed.
Check: The uncreased wing packet is accessible on the outside.
Explore this step ↑STEP 22 · Letter-paper bat
Fold the second wing outward
Measure the same ¼-inch offset from the center fold on this side. Fold the other complete wing outward on a matching parallel line.
Layers: Only the second wing packet moves.
Check: Both root creases are the same distance from the body center fold.
Explore this step ↑STEP 23 · Letter-paper bat
Raise the first wing
Open the first wing at its root until it stands at a right angle to the body strip. Do not reopen the central body crease.
Layers: All layers of the first wing open together.
Check: The narrow body remains folded; the wing is not peeled into separate layers.
Explore this step ↑STEP 24 · Letter-paper bat
Raise the second wing
Open the other wing to the opposite side of the folded body. The diagram uses a right angle at each root to make a flat span.
Layers: The second wing opens as a complete packet.
Check: The wings extend to opposite sides. These display angles are illustrative, not flight settings.
Explore this step ↑STEP 25 · Letter-paper bat
Level the wings for the outer folds
Rotate the whole model so the wings lie level and the narrow central ridge is visible. This is a handling turn, not another crease.
Layers: Keep both wing roots and the central body folded.
Check: The wings retain their full width and the central ridge retains its ¼-inch depth.
Explore this step ↑STEP 26 · Letter-paper bat
Fold the right outer edge inward
Find the right shoulder S, outer corner C and existing lower point Q. Swing the outer sloping edge S–C inward until its edge lies on the line from S through Q. Crease the angle bisector at S. The corner goes beyond Q; do not force C to meet Q.
Layers: Fold all layers of the right outer tip together; the central body stays fixed.
Check: The folded outer tip makes a long hanging point beyond Q.
Explore this step ↑STEP 27 · Letter-paper bat
Fold the left outer edge inward
Repeat the edge-to-point alignment on the left wing. Align the sloping edge with the line from its shoulder through its lower point.
Layers: Move the complete left outer tip packet.
Check: Two long tips hang below the lower side points.
Explore this step ↑STEP 28 · Letter-paper bat
Turn to the lower tabs
Turn over the whole bat to expose the plain wing faces and the small doubled tabs along the lower edges.
Layers: Keep the two long outer-tip folds closed.
Check: The long tips are still present; the central ridge is now underneath.
Explore this step ↑STEP 29 · Letter-paper bat
Tuck the right doubled tab
Find the small doubled lower tab on the original right wing. Fold it upward across the line joining its inner notch to the outer-tip hinge at the lower edge. Keep the long folded outer tip separate and still. After turning over, original right is on your left.
Layers: Only the exposed doubled tab moves. Do not fold the main wing or the long outer tip.
Check: The small tab is folded onto the plain wing face. The long outer tip still hangs below.
Explore this step ↑STEP 30 · Letter-paper bat
Tuck the left doubled tab
Fold the matching small doubled tab on the other wing upward on its corresponding notch-to-hinge line.
Layers: Move the doubled tab only, leaving its long tip and broad wing fixed.
Check: Both small tabs are up; both long outer tips remain folded down.
Explore this step ↑STEP 31 · Letter-paper bat
Reopen the right outer tip
Open the original right outer-tip fold back along its own crease. Leave the small tab you just tucked folded up.
Layers: The saved outer-tip packet opens; the doubled lower tab does not.
Check: The wing regains its broad outer corner while the tucked lower edge stays shortened.
Explore this step ↑STEP 32 · Letter-paper bat
Reopen the left outer tip
Open the other outer-tip packet in the same way, retaining its small tab fold.
Layers: Only the remaining long outer tip opens.
Check: Two broad wings, a short central nose and tucked lower edges remain.
Explore this step ↑STEP 33 · Letter-paper bat
Check the finished bat
Check the narrow body underneath, matched wing roots, short nose and two tucked side tabs. The outer tips are open again, with their creases retained. The reference describes flapping during flight; that behavior has not been tested here.
Layers: One connected sheet, with no removed or hidden material.
Check: The making sequence is complete. This illustration is not a flight demonstration or performance guarantee.
Explore this step ↑
Sources & notes
Origami Tutorial (publisher; model inventor unknown), how to make a bat paper airplane flapping wings (2021 (page metadata)).
Construction reference ↗ · Publisher terms ↗
The model inventor has not been established. The page metadata names Allison as its author; this is not an inventor attribution. These instructions, geometric diagrams and animation code are newly authored with AI assistance by Fold With Me. No source photographs, artwork, wording or layout are reproduced. No public-domain or source-asset license is asserted.
Adaptation: We follow the photographed corner-to-corner precreases: on a rectangle, bringing the other two corners together makes a different crease. During the collapse, side midpoints move inward but do not meet the bottom midpoint. Our ¼-inch body width is an explicit teaching choice: the source gives no measurement. Flat-wing display angles are illustrative. The reference describes wings flapping in flight; we have not tested that behavior and make no flight-performance guarantee.
English instructions, geometric diagrams and code are newly authored with AI assistance. The linked modern tutorial is a construction reference; its photographs, wording and layout are not bundled.
Validation notes
Real-paper follow-along, including paper weight: not performed. Screen preview approval is not a physical folding result. Diagrams are zero-thickness illustrations, not physical simulations or performance predictions.
The construction uses original material coordinates, rigid hinges and a continuous six-panel collapse. Body and wing folds retain the entire sheet. Static diagrams come from the same geometric endpoints as the interactive guide. Zero-thickness layers and approximate depth ordering are teaching aids, not a contact or collision simulation. Real-paper folding and in-flight flapping have not been tested.
The renderer uses simplified depth order. Thickness, layer contact, collisions and precise occlusion are not simulated.