Valley Fold

The valley fold is one of the first things you’ll learn in origami, and for good reason—it's everywhere!

This simple fold creates a “V” shape in the paper and serves as the foundation for countless origami models.

Whether you're folding a classic paper crane or a more intricate design, mastering the valley fold is a must. Let’s break it down step by step.

If you’re new to origami, the valley fold is one of the most important folds to learn.

It’s simple—just fold your paper in half to create a crease that looks like a valley.

But don’t let its simplicity fool you!

This basic fold is used in almost every origami design, from beginner-friendly projects to complex, multi-step creations.

In origami, precision is key.

A well-made valley fold helps keep your model symmetrical and neat, while a sloppy one can throw everything off.

Many essential bases, like the bird base and square base, start with valley folds.

You'll also see them in more advanced folds like the petal fold and rabbit ear fold, which build on this fundamental technique.

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

Once you’ve mastered the valley fold, you'll find it much easier to tackle more advanced techniques.

Let's go through the steps!

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 down.

Step 2: Fold the bottom edge of the paper up to meet the top edge.

Step 3: Completed valley fold. Note: Valley folds can occur in many different forms, more than just folding the paper from bottom to top.

The basis of a valley fold is typically when the paper is folded into a “v” shape when you unfold it.

Common Uses

Many simple and fun origami projects use the valley fold, including:

• Origami Fox – A beginner-friendly animal fold.
• Origami Bat – A great seasonal or Halloween-themed model.
• Pinwheel Origami Box with Lid – A practical and decorative origami box.
• Easy Origami Rabbit Face – A simple, cute design for all ages.

Related Folds

Once you’ve mastered the valley fold, try these next:

• Mountain Fold – The opposite of a valley fold, creating a peak instead of a dip.
• Blintz Fold – A technique where all four corners of a square are folded to the center.
• Square Base Fold – A fundamental origami base that builds on valley folds.

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.