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Flat Origami Bat

Fold a flat bat for a card or Halloween display. A shortened triangle becomes two broad wings; a little forehead fold finishes the face between them. This guide makes a paper picture, not a flying bat.

Preparation + 12 numbered steps

Materials

6-inch square · 6 × 6 inches

One 6 × 6-inch square (15.24 × 15.24 cm) of thin paper. Black on both sides makes a dark bat; contrasting sides help you follow the layers. Ruler and pencil for the wing and forehead marks; optional pen for eyes. No cuts or glue.

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Read all illustrated steps ↓Download PDF ↓ · one-page illustrated guide
Flat Origami Bat: Two broad pointed wings around a small folded face
Two broad pointed wings around a small folded face

Follow along

Preparation

The interactive guide needs JavaScript. Read every illustrated step below.

Camera only; does not change the fold.
Help · controls & diagram

Play or drag the progress slider to watch a fold from 0% to 100%. Use the view buttons or drag the diagram to look from another angle.

Blue and gold track the original left and right halves, not the literal colors of your paper. Darker shades show reverse faces. Orange marks moving layers and their hinge.

With the diagram focused: Space plays or pauses, ←/→ change steps, and Home resets.

Every step, at a glance

Compare your paper with each diagram after completing the action. Blue and gold track the original left and right halves, not the literal colors of your paper. Darker shades show reverse faces. Orange marks moving layers and their hinge.

  1. 0. Prepare the diamond
  2. 1. Crease the vertical center
  3. 2. Open the diamond
  4. 3. Make an upward triangle
  5. 4. Lower the upper point
  6. 5. Fold the right corner down
  7. 6. Fold the left corner down
  8. 7. Open out the right wing
  9. 8. Open out the left wing
  10. 9. Turn to the plain face
  11. 10. Fold the small forehead
  12. 11. Press the center crease behind
  13. 12. Open the bat and finish
  1. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: goldPrepare the diamond

    PREPARATION · Origami Club Bat 2

    Prepare the diamond

    Place the square with a point at the top and the intended bat color facing down.

    Layers: One uncut square.

    Check: The upper and lower corners align vertically.

    Explore this step ↑
  2. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: goldCrease the vertical center

    STEP 1 · Origami Club Bat 2

    Crease the vertical center

    Bring the right point to the left point and press the center crease.

    Layers: Move the entire right half.

    Check: The top and bottom points stay fixed.

    Explore this step ↑
  3. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: goldOpen the diamond

    STEP 2 · Origami Club Bat 2

    Open the diamond

    Return the right half completely to the table.

    Layers: Open the same half.

    Check: The diamond is flat again.

    Explore this step ↑
  4. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: goldMake an upward triangle

    STEP 3 · Origami Club Bat 2

    Make an upward triangle

    Bring the bottom point to the top point. Match both sloping edges and press the long base.

    Layers: Move the complete lower half.

    Check: The closed edge lies across the bottom of an upward-pointing triangle.

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  5. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: goldLower the upper point

    STEP 4 · Origami Club Bat 2

    Lower the upper point

    Measure 1.70 inches (about 4.31 cm) upward from the long base along the center crease. Fold the upper point down across a horizontal line through that mark.

    Layers: Carry both layers of the upper triangle together.

    Check: A short central point extends about 0.85 inches below the original base.

    Explore this step ↑
  6. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: goldFold the right corner down

    STEP 5 · Origami Club Bat 2

    Fold the right corner down

    Fold the right half inward on a diagonal from the midpoint of the new top edge down toward the right. Bring the right half of that top edge onto the vertical center crease.

    Layers: Carry every layer of the right corner packet.

    Check: The upper right shoulder reaches the center, and a long point hangs below on the right.

    Explore this step ↑
  7. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: goldFold the left corner down

    STEP 6 · Origami Club Bat 2

    Fold the left corner down

    Mirror the fold, bringing the left half of the top edge to the same center line.

    Layers: Carry the full left packet; leave the right packet still.

    Check: The two long points hang side by side beneath a central tip.

    Explore this step ↑
  8. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: goldOpen out the right wing

    STEP 7 · Origami Club Bat 2

    Open out the right wing

    On the center line, mark 0.51 inches (about 1.29 cm) below the central top tip. Join this mark to the top corner of the right outer vertical edge. Fold the hanging right packet outward and up on this line.

    Layers: Move only the right corner packet, keeping its earlier folds closed.

    Check: A broad pointed wing extends to the right, with a small inner root still folded.

    Explore this step ↑
  9. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: goldOpen out the left wing

    STEP 8 · Origami Club Bat 2

    Open out the left wing

    Make the matching line from the same center mark to the top of the left outer vertical edge. Fold the left packet outward and up.

    Layers: Move only the complete left corner packet. Keep the right wing still.

    Check: Two broad wings extend sideways around a short central diamond.

    Explore this step ↑
  10. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: goldTurn to the plain face

    STEP 9 · Origami Club Bat 2

    Turn to the plain face

    Turn the whole bat over from side to side. Keep the short central tip at the top.

    Layers: Turn both wings and all central layers together.

    Check: The smoother face lies between the wings.

    Explore this step ↑
  11. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: goldFold the small forehead

    STEP 10 · Origami Club Bat 2

    Fold the small forehead

    Mark a horizontal line about 0.42 inches (1.08 cm) below the central top tip. Fold that small central packet downward.

    Layers: Carry the central layers and the attached inner wing roots. Do not fold the two returned outer wings, whose shoulders are higher.

    Check: A short flat forehead separates the two upper wing shoulders.

    Explore this step ↑
  12. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: goldPress the center crease behind

    STEP 11 · Origami Club Bat 2

    Press the center crease behind

    Fold the whole right half behind the left half along the original vertical center crease. Press lightly.

    Layers: Carry the complete right wing and its half of the face together.

    Check: The wings align with the small face inside the folded center.

    Explore this step ↑
  13. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: goldOpen the bat and finish

    STEP 12 · Origami Club Bat 2

    Open the bat and finish

    Reopen the same half fully so both wings lie flat. Keep the forehead folded. Optionally draw two eyes in the small face and smooth the bat for display.

    Layers: Open the whole right half. Eyes are optional pen ink, not cuts or additional paper.

    Check: Two pointed wings frame the face, with a little central point below. The flat bat is complete.

    Explore this step ↑
Sources & notes

Origami Club; diagram copyright credit: Fumiaki Shingu, A Bat 2 (undated web diagram).

Bat 2 construction diagram ↗

The diagram credits Fumiaki Shingu. That copyright credit does not establish the design inventor or a design-reuse license. This model is not labeled traditional or public domain. Reference images, wording and code are not reproduced; these English instructions, geometry, SVG diagrams and PDF are original.

Adaptation: Follows the complete Bat 2 triangle, lowered apex, two center-meeting wing packets, outward wing returns, whole turnover, small forehead fold and reopened center crease. Paired folds and reopening are separated. The source gives unmeasured shaping lines: the lowered-apex hinge is 40% of the triangle height above its base; wing-return hinges join a center mark 12% of that original height below the new top to each outer vertical-edge top corner. The forehead crease is 10% of the original triangle height below the central tip. These measured proportions are authored choices. The forehead carries the central layers and attached inner wing roots, but excludes both returned outer wings. Optional eyes are learner-drawn ink. The finished model stays flat; no flight or flapping claim is made.

Original instructions and diagrams, made with AI assistance. About & reuse

Accuracy notes

Real-paper follow-along and paper weight have not been tested. Diagrams illustrate the sequence, not paper thickness, contact, collisions or exact layer visibility.