Mountain Fold

The mountain fold is one of the most essential folds in origami, acting as the opposite of the valley fold.

Instead of creating a dip, this fold forms a peak, like a tiny mountain ridge.

Many origami designs rely on both valley and mountain folds to take shape. Mastering this simple technique will help you build more complex models with confidence.

Let’s get started!

If you've already learned the valley fold, then understanding the mountain fold will be easy—it’s essentially the reverse!

Instead of folding the paper forward to create a “V” shape, you fold it backward, forming a peak.

This small difference plays a huge role in origami, as many models require both types of folds to create depth and structure.

The mountain fold is commonly used in precreasing, a technique where folds are made before shaping a model.

It also appears in basic origami bases like the square base and bird base.

Learning to switch between valley and mountain folds is key to improving your origami skills.

If you’re just starting out, be sure to check out our collection of easy origami for beginners for simple projects that use this fold.

Now, let’s go step by step to create a perfect mountain fold.

Skill Level

★☆☆☆☆ (Very Easy)

Materials Needed

1 square sheet of origami paper

Instructions

Step 1: Start with the color you want on the outside facing up.

Step 2: Fold the top edge of the paper away from you (behind) to meet the bottom edge. Once you match the edges, crease your paper.

Step 3: Completed mountain fold. Note: Mountain folds can occur in many different forms, more than just folding the paper like we just did.

The basis of a mountain fold is typically when the paper is folded into an inverted “v” shape (like a mountain peak) when you unfold it.

Common Uses

The mountain fold is used in many origami projects, including:

• Paper Leaf Envelope – A stylish origami envelope with a leaf-shaped flap.
• Origami Fox – A fun, beginner-friendly animal model that requires both valley and mountain folds.

Related Folds

Now that you know the mountain fold, try these next:

• Valley Fold – The opposite of a mountain fold, creating an inward crease.
• Square Base Fold – A fundamental origami base that combines both mountain and valley folds.
• Blintz Fold – A technique where all four corners of a square are folded to the center.

Helpful Origami Tips

If you're curious to learn more about origami, you might like to look at our basic guides on how to make some common origami folds.

Start with the valley fold and mountain fold—these are the foundation of most origami models.

Once you're comfortable, you might like to try the petal fold for 3D shapes, and explore the bird base and square base for more complex designs.

The water bomb base is also great for creating inflatable or geometric models, like this inflatable origami rabbit.