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Origami Paper Size Calculator

Work out origami paper size instantly with clear inputs, formula shown and shareable results.

About Origami Paper Size Calculator

Each classic model folds down to a roughly fixed fraction of the starting square, so the sheet size is the finished size multiplied by that model's shrink ratio. Origami sheets come in fixed sizes, so working backwards from the finished model is the only way to avoid a crane half the size you wanted.

Formulas

Sheet size

sheet side = desired finished size x model shrink ratio

Diagonal

diagonal = side x square root of 2

Worked example

With the default values below, Origami Paper Size Calculator returns Square sheet size needed of 30.00. Change any input above and every figure here is recalculated in your browser.

Inputs used

Desired finished sizeminimum 0.5 cm
10 cm
Modelone of Crane (finished about 1/3 of the sheet), Boat (about 1/2 of the sheet), Plane (about 4/5 of the sheet length), Frog (about 1/4 of the sheet)
Crane (finished about 1/3 of the sheet)

Results

Square sheet size needed
30.00 cm
Sheet diagonal
42.43 cm
Sheet area
900.00 cm2
Shrink ratio for this model
1 : 3 finished to sheet

Step by step

  1. 1Values used
  2. 2Sheet size
  3. 3Diagonal
  4. 4Square sheet size needed= 30.00 cm
  5. 5Sheet diagonal= 42.43 cm
  6. 6Sheet area= 900.00 cm2
  7. 7Shrink ratio for this model= 1 : 3 finished to sheet

Assumptions and limits

  • The result is derived only from the 2 inputs listed above. Anything not among them is not part of the calculation.
  • In particular, this calculator does not take inflation, tax, fees or charges or compounding frequency into account.
  • Figures are rounded for display to 2 decimal places, so totals built from several rounded parts can differ slightly from the unrounded arithmetic.

How these calculators are built and tested is described on the Methodology page. If a figure looks wrong, please report it.

Frequently Asked Questions

How is the Origami Paper Size figure worked out?

sheet side = desired finished size x model shrink ratio. Each classic model folds down to a roughly fixed fraction of the starting square, so the sheet size is the finished size multiplied by that model's shrink ratio.

Why does this matter?

Origami sheets come in fixed sizes, so working backwards from the finished model is the only way to avoid a crane half the size you wanted.

What do I need to enter?

Enter desired finished size, model. The defaults shown are a realistic worked example — swap in your own figures to get a result you can use.

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