How to Fold a Paper Box

An origami box is a simple project, and it makes a great hiding place for small treasures. With a pair of boxes, you can use one as the box and the other as a lid to wrap small gifts. This is also called a masu box Here's how to make one.

1. Begin with a piece of square paper. You can use origami paper or fold any piece of paper diagonally from the corner to the opposite edge and trim off the excess.
   
   
2. Fold the paper in half along its horizontal middle. Open the piece of paper.
   
   
3. Fold it in half along its vertical middle. You should now have two creases that intersect at the center of the square. Open the fold. 
   
   
4. Fold the in half on the diagonal, one corner to the opposite corner. Open it back up. 
   
   
5. Fold the paper on the other diagonal.
   
   
6. Lay the paper out flat.
   
   
7. Fold each corner in to the centre where the creases intersect. You should end up with a smaller square. 
   
   
8. Fold one edge of this square to the center. 
   
   
9. Fold the other edge of this square to the center. 
   
   
10. Open up the two corners you just folded, all the way from the centre. Notice which way the folds go, and open up only these two corners. If you folded the edges in from the top and bottom in the previous two steps, you will open the top and bottom corners.
    
    
11. Rotate the paper 90 degrees, so that the unfolded corners point to the left and right. 
    
    
12. Fold the top edge in to the centre as shown, leaving the two corners open. Use the creases in the paper to align the middle of the edge with the centre of the paper. 
    
    
13. 13
    Fold the bottom edge in to the center, as in the previous step. 
    
    
14. Open the last two folds so that they are folded only 90 degrees. You now have the floor and two walls of your box.
    
    
15. Fold one open end and, as you fold it, push the corners in, as shown. Try to position the corner in the centre of the "floor" of the box, with the other two corners. The creases should naturally fold into a wall as you do so. 
    
    
16. Wrap the open flap around, tucking in the corners. The point should meet in the center of the box bottom. 
    
    
17. Do the same with the other side. Tuck in the corner, following the existing creases. 
    
    
18. Wrap the remaining flap up and around the corners you just tucked in, meeting the other points in the centre of the box bottom. 
    
    
19. Finished.
    
    

• For best results, fold neatly. For each fold, carefully align the edge or corner with whatever edge, crease, or other feature it should meet, then crease the paper firmly.
• You might want to dab some glue on the bottom of the triangular flaps in order to make them stay down, or you can use tape.
• If your paper is colored on one side, fold it so that the colored side faces down at first.
• To make a lid for your box, create a square of paper half a centimeter larger than the first box, and repeat all steps.
  • An alternate method for making a lid is to repeat the steps with the same size paper, but on steps 12 and 13, don't fold the edges all the way to the center. Instead, leave about 1/8 of an inch between the edge and the center on both sides.
• You can use poster board to create a bigger box. You can use sticky notes to make a very small box. But beware it is very difficult.

• Don't put anything too heavy in the box, or it will collapse. Remember, it is paper.
• Watch out for paper cuts.