Welcome to a charming little challenge, this Origami Mini Dragon. While not strictly “easy,” its clever design is truly rewarding and entirely within reach for a determined beginner. All you need is just one square of paper.
What you’ll create is a tiny dragon with small wings and a wonderfully expressive, curved tail. I best part that I believe most of you guys will love is that it is designed to perch. By adjusting the tail’s curve, you can make it sit snugly on your fingertip, just like a little pet!
If you want to make a friend for your mini dragon, you may fold an Easy Origami Money Dragon, which is also tiny and cute.
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: 30 minutes
- Paper: 15×15 cm
- Total steps: 30
- Difficulty: Intermediate
Material
With a 15 × 15 cm square sheet of origami paper, you can make an mini dragon about 6 × 7.2 cm.
Step by Step Instructions
Step 1
Place the paper in a diamond shape with the desired display side face down. Fold and unfold it along both diagonal lines.
Step 2
Fold and unfold the four edges to align with the center horizontal crease.
Step 3
Based on the creases you just made, bring the square’s top right and left edges. This will form a small flap, and flat this flap to the left side (rabbit ear fold).
Step 4
Perform another rabbit ear fold on the bottom side.
Step 5
Turn the paper over from back to front, then rotate it 90 degrees clockwise. Fold it in half vertically from right to left.
Step 6
Fold the bottom half of the right edge to align with the center horizontal crease, crease it very well, and unfold it.
Then, unfold the top layer back to the right side.
Step 7
Mountain fold the bottom half section of the vertical crease. Valley fold along the two creases indicated by the dashed lines, bringing up the bottom corner. (inside reverse fold).
Push the left and right sides toward the center to close it from the back side. The top point will collapse downward as you close.
Rotate the model 90 degrees from left to right to lay it flat.
Step 8
Fold the bottom left edge (top layer) upward to align with the horizontal edge. Crease it well, and unfold it.
Turn the model over from left to right, and repeat this for the bottom right edge on this side.
Step 9
Fold down the triangle flap, then flip the model over from left to right, and fold down the triangle flap on this side.
Step 10
Fold the right edge to align with the horizontal crease. Crease it well, and unfold.
Step 11
Rotate the model 90 degrees from left to right, and open it up. (pictures 1-2)
Make inside reverse fold for the top part by mountain fold the vertical crease, valley fold the two creases indicated by the black dashed lines. (picture 3)
Bring the top and bottom layers together toward the center, while push the left and right edges inward to flat the model. (picture 4)
Rotate it 90 degrees from right to left to lay it flat. (picture 5)
Step 12
Fold the top layer’s top left edge downward to align with the bottom edge of this layer itself. Crease well, and unfold. (pictures 1-2)
Turn the model over from left to right, and repeat this action for the top right edge of the top layer. (pictures 3-5)
Step 13
Rotate the model 90 degrees from left to right, and bring up the triangular flap on each side. (pictures 1-2)
Combine the layers on the left side, and the layers on the right side. Rotate the model 90 degrees backward to lay it flat. (pictures 3-4)
Step 14
Fold the top edge downward along the black dashed line, which connect the end of two creases. Crease well, and unfold.
Step 15
Based on the creases you have made, fold the bottom corner of the top layer up, this will form a pocket. (picture 1)
Fold the four edges of the pocket inward toward the center, then flatten the pocket. (pictures 2-3)
Step 16
Flip the model over from left to right, and repeat the previous step on this side.
Step 17
Fold the top triangle down, then fold the model in half vertically from right to left.
Step 18
Locate the small flap on the center: fold its left slanted edge to align with its top edge.
Turn the model over from left to right, and repeat this for the flap on this side.
Step 19
Rotate the model 90 degrees counterclockwise.
Step 20
Fold the right section upward along the black dashed line. Crease, and unfold.
Step 21
Rotate the model 90 degrees forward, and open up the right section. (pictures 1-2)
Perform an inside reverse fold based on the creases you have made, flatten and close this section. (pictures 3-4)
Rotate the model 90 degrees backward to lay it flat. (picture 5)
Step 22
Fold down the top corner to the right side, leave a crease, and unfold it.
Step 23
Rotate the model 90 degrees forward. Open the right section, perform an inside reverse fold based on the creases you just made, making this section’s top corner down. (pictures 1-3)
Then, fold the corner to the left side. (picture 4)
Bring up the top and bottom edges together to close this section, and rotate the model 90 degrees backward. (pictures 5-6)
Now, we finished the head and horn.
Step 24
Let’s create the wings.
Fold the top wing layer’s top slanted edge to meet the top edge of the body. Then, fold the new edge down again to the same body line. Crease them sharply
Gently unfold both creases. Unfold the creases. The paper will naturally hold a curve.
Step 25
Turn the model over from left to right, and make another wing in the same way.
Step 26
Fold down the tail section along the black dashed line, crease sharply, and unfold.
Step 27
Rotate the model 90 degrees forward. Open the tail section, and make an outside reverse fold by mountain fold the creases you just made, and press down the tip of the tail.
Close the model and rotate it 90 degrees backward.
Step 28
Rotate the model so the tail lies horizontally with the head on the left. Open up the tail section. (picture 1)
Make mountain fold along the red dash-dot-dot lines. (picture 2)
Next, take the upper and lower short mountain creases, and fold them toward the left side a little along the black dashed lines. This creates a subtle “S” curve in the tail when viewed from the side, bringing the tail tip closer to the front legs. (picture-3)
Close the tail section, pressing all the new creases flat. (picture-4)
Personalizing Tip: You can freely adjust the angle of the tail so the gap between it and the front leg is just wide enough to fit your fingertip snugly.
Step 29
Repeat the previous shaping step to deepen the curve and bring the tail tip closer to the front legs.
Step 30
Rotate the model 180 degrees clockwise to orient it upright, with the head at the top. Your mini dragon is now complete.
What’s Next
If you loved the process, you’ll be happy to know this is just the beginning. I have more origami dragons waiting to be folded, each with its own personality and challenge.
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