In the ocean, the hammerhead shark always stands out because of its special head. Now you can craft a cool and lifelike origami Hammerhead Shark, a brilliant design by Matsuno Yukihiko.
Start with a single square sheet of paper. This intermediate model offers a rewarding challenge and is best known for its iconic hammer-shaped head.
Besides, you’ll master the inside reverse fold here; it is a key technique for shaping its realistic tail and head. The process is engaging, and the result is truly impressive. Let’s start folding.
If you are new to origami, start here from our beginner guide to know the basics and how to read the step-by-step instructions.
- Folding time: 40 minutes
- Paper: 15×15 cm
- Total steps: 30
- Difficulty: Intermediate
- Designer: Matsuno Yukihiko
Material
Using a 15 × 15 cm square sheet of origami paper, you can create a hammerhead shark model that is approximately 8.7 cm long (the finished size can vary slightly depending on folding accuracy and the specific origami paper used).
Step by Step Instructions
Step 1
Place the paper in a diamond shape with the desired display side face down. Fold it in half vertically, crease, and unfold. Then, fold it in half horizontally from bottom to top.
Step 2
Fold the right edge (top layer) to align with the bottom edge. Do not crease the entire folded flap, only press down to create a short crease, where this new fold intersects the existing vertical diagonal crease. Unfold it.
Step 3
Fold the bottom edge upward, making its midpoint meet the intersection point of the creases in the center. Leave a crease, and completely unfold this paper.
Step 4
Fold the bottom left edge to align with the bottom horizontal crease. Crease only the left-hand portion of this new fold, stopping at the center vertical crease. Unfold it.
Step 5
Repeat the previous step for the right side.
Fold the bottom right edge to align with the bottom horizontal crease. Crease only the right-hand portion of this new fold, stopping at the center vertical crease. Unfold it.
Step 6
Bring up both the bottom left and bottom right edges along the creases you just made. This will naturally create a triangular flap. Then, flatten this entire triangular flap to the right side. (rabbit ear fold)
Step 7
Now, we will work on the top half, using a similar folding method.
Fold the top left edge to align with the top horizontal crease. Crease only the left-hand portion of this new fold, stopping at the center vertical crease. Unfold it. (pictures 1-2)
Repeat this for the top right edge. (pictures 3-4)
Step 8
As you did earlier, bring up both the top left and top right edges along the creases you just made, this will naturally create a triangular flap. Then, flatten this entire triangular flap to the right side. (rabbit ear fold)
Finally, fold the right corner toward the left along the bashed line (picture 4).
Step 9
Fold the left corner of this model to meet the bottom left point of the top triangle, leave a short crease, and unfold it.
Then, fold the same left corner to meet the top left point of the bottom triangle, crease, and unfold.
Step 10
Lift the top left and bottom left edges along the creases you just made, forming a triangular flap. Finally, flatten this flap upward. (rabbit ear fold)
Step 11
Turn over the model from back to front, and fold the left corner to the right side. As you do this, ensure the two red dots where creases meet the edges align perfectly with the two red dots where creases intersect on the right. (pictures 1-2)
Then, turn over from front to back, and fold the model in half horizontally from top to bottom. (pictures 3-4)
Step 12
Take the top layer, fold its bottom corner upward along the dashed line, and reveal two flaps. Fold the top one to the left side. (pictures 1-2)
Next, we work on this flap. Fold the left edge to align with the right edge, then fold this entire flap back to the right side. (pictures 3-4)
Step 13
Turn over the model from left to right, then fold the bottom corner upward along the dashed line. (pictures 1-2)
Then, fold the flap to the right, and fold its right edge to align with its left edge. Finally, fold it back to the left side. (pictures 3-6)
Step 14
Fold the bottom triangular flap upward. Then, flip the model over from left to right, and repeat this step with the triangular flap on this side.
Step 15
Unfold the top layer, and fold the bottom corner upward along the black dashed line. (pictures 1-2)
Next, fold the bottom left corner upward along the black dashed line, making it meet the white edge. (picture 3)
Finally, fold this layer back to the top side. (picture 4)
Step 16
Flip the model from left to right, and unfold the top layer. (pictures 1-2)
Next, fold the bottom corner upward along the black dashed line. (picture 3)
Then, fold the bottom right corner upward along the dashed line, making it meet the white edge. (picture 4)
Finally, fold this layer back to the top side. (picture 5)
Step 17
Rotate the model 90 degrees from back to front to make the opening toward you, then slightly expand it. (pictures 1-2)
Make mountain folds along the dash-dot-dot lines that extend from the red dot, and make valley folds along the center horizontal crease indicated by the black dashed line. (pictures 3-4)
Bring everything together, collapsing the model along these new folds. Press it flat to complete the form. (pictures 5-6)
Step 18
Rotate the model 90 degrees from front to back to lay it flat. Then fold up the bottom small triangle, crease it well, and unfold it.
Step 19
Rotate the model 90 degrees from back to front to make it stand upright, and slightly expand it. (pictures 1-2)
Take the midpoint of the right edge, slightly lift it. While you do this, make valley folds along the creases indicated by the black dashed lines, and the crease indicated by the red dash-dot-dot will automatically transform into a mountain crease (inside reverse fold). (picture 3)
Bring everything together, collapsing the model along these new folds. Rotate it 90 degrees from front to back to place it flat. (pictures 4-6)
Step 20
From this step, we will create the hammer part.
On the top layer of the right side, make a valley fold upward along the dashed line, then a mountain fold downward. This creates a “zigzag”. (pictures 1-2)
Turn over the model from right to left, and repeat to create an identical part. (picture 3)
On the left side of the model, fold the layer up and then down again to create a zigzag. (pictures 4-6)
Step 21
Rotate the model 90 degrees from front to back to work on the underside. Gently unfold the two flaps you made earlier to form the hammerhead shape. Flip it over to view the model from the back.
Step 22
Rotate the model 90 degrees from front to back to lay it flat, fold down the triangle on the right side, and unfold it.
Step 23
Rotate the model 90 degrees from front to back to make the bottom face up, and slightly expand it. (pictures 1-2)
Take the midpoint of the right edge, slightly lift it. While you do this, make valley folds along the creases indicated by the black dashed lines, and the crease indicated by the red dash-dot-dot will automatically transform into a mountain crease (inside reverse fold). (picture 3)
Collapsing the model along these new folds. Rotate it 90 degrees from back to front to place it flat. (pictures 4-6)
Step 24
Fold up the bottom triangle on the right side, crease it well, and unfold it.
Step 25
Expand the tail, and make an inside reverse fold as you did earlier. Finally, lay it flat.
Step 26
Fold down the small triangle on the right side, and unfold it.
Step 27
Make another inside reverse fold as you did earlier, based on the creases you made in the previous step.
Step 28
Fold up the tail part, then fold the top caudal lobe down. (pictures 1-2)
Next, fold the left edge of this caudal lobe to align with the center line of the two lobes. Finally, fold the tail back down. (pictures 3-4)
Step 29
Take the top layer of the tail part, make a mountain fold along the crease shown by the red dash-dot-dot line (picture 1), then take this mountain crease, and fold it toward the left, making the tail reveal on the front side perfectly (picture 2).
Finally, close this tail by folding it in half along the center crease (picture 3).
Step 30
Gently expand the two hammers and press down the two front fins.
Step 31
This is your cool origami hammerhead shark.
What’s Next
Well done! Your finished hammerhead shark looks amazing and lifelike. If you enjoyed this, you might also like to fold my other origami fish designs. Happy folding!
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