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Origami Masu Box

Make the traditional square Masu box without cuts or glue. Raise two walls, collapse the paired corners, then wrap each end flap over its corner layers and onto the floor. This guide makes one open box, without a lid.

Preparation + 25 numbered steps

Materials

6-inch square · 6 × 6 inches

One 6 × 6-inch square (15.24 × 15.24 cm) of thin origami paper. The ideal finished box is about 2.12 inches across and 1.06 inches high. No scissors or glue.

Start the interactive guide ↓
Read all illustrated steps ↓Download PDF ↓ · one-page illustrated guide
Open square Masu box folded from one sheet, with four walls and a flat floor
Finished open Masu box · square floor and four walls · no lid

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 of one sheet, not separate pieces. Darker shades indicate the reverse. Orange marks moving folds.

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 of one sheet, not separate pieces. Darker shades indicate the reverse. Orange marks moving folds.

  1. 0. Prepare the square
  2. 1. First center crease
  3. 2. Open the first crease
  4. 3. Second center crease
  5. 4. Open the square
  6. 5. Right corner to center
  7. 6. Left corner to center
  8. 7. Top corner to center
  9. 8. Bottom corner to center
  10. 9. Crease the upper wall
  11. 10. Open the upper wall
  12. 11. Crease the lower wall
  13. 12. Open the lower wall
  14. 13. Open the top point
  15. 14. Open the bottom point
  16. 15. Crease the right wall
  17. 16. Open the right wall
  18. 17. Crease the left wall
  19. 18. Open the left wall
  20. 19. Raise the side walls
  21. 20. Collapse the top corners
  22. 21. Bend the top tip
  23. 22. Wrap the top end
  24. 23. Collapse the bottom corners
  25. 24. Bend the remaining tip
  26. 25. Wrap and finish
  1. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: goldPrepare the square

    PREPARATION · Traditional lidless Masu box

    Prepare the square

    Put the intended outside color face down, with a corner pointing up.

    Layers: One uncut square.

    Check: Opposite corners line up vertically.

    Explore this step ↑
  2. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: goldFirst center crease

    STEP 1 · Traditional lidless Masu box

    First center crease

    Bring the lower-right sloping edge to the upper-left sloping edge. Match the corners and press the fold through the center.

    Layers: Move the complete lower-right half sheet.

    Check: Opposite edges meet in a rectangle.

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

    STEP 2 · Traditional lidless Masu box

    Open the first crease

    Return the folded half fully to the table.

    Layers: Open the same half.

    Check: The square is flat.

    Explore this step ↑
  4. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: goldSecond center crease

    STEP 3 · Traditional lidless Masu box

    Second center crease

    Bring the upper-right sloping edge to the lower-left sloping edge. Match both corners and press.

    Layers: Move the complete upper-right half sheet.

    Check: The two center creases cross at the middle.

    Explore this step ↑
  5. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: goldOpen the square

    STEP 4 · Traditional lidless Masu box

    Open the square

    Unfold completely. The crease crossing marks the center.

    Layers: One flat sheet.

    Check: All four corners are visible.

    Explore this step ↑
  6. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: goldRight corner to center

    STEP 5 · Traditional lidless Masu box

    Right corner to center

    Bring the right corner to the crease crossing. Press the straight fold halfway between them.

    Layers: Only the right corner flap.

    Check: The tip meets the center.

    Explore this step ↑
  7. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: goldLeft corner to center

    STEP 6 · Traditional lidless Masu box

    Left corner to center

    Bring the left corner to the same center point.

    Layers: Only the left corner flap.

    Check: The two tips meet without overlap.

    Explore this step ↑
  8. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: goldTop corner to center

    STEP 7 · Traditional lidless Masu box

    Top corner to center

    Bring the upper corner down to the center.

    Layers: Only the upper corner flap.

    Check: Its point meets the first two tips.

    Explore this step ↑
  9. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: goldBottom corner to center

    STEP 8 · Traditional lidless Masu box

    Bottom corner to center

    Bring the bottom corner up to the center.

    Layers: Only the bottom corner flap.

    Check: Four tips meet inside a smaller square.

    Explore this step ↑
  10. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: goldCrease the upper wall

    STEP 9 · Traditional lidless Masu box

    Crease the upper wall

    Fold the upper horizontal edge down to the center.

    Layers: Carry every layer above the new fold.

    Check: The edge meets the center line.

    Explore this step ↑
  11. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: goldOpen the upper wall

    STEP 10 · Traditional lidless Masu box

    Open the upper wall

    Unfold that edge to the smaller square.

    Layers: Open the same packet.

    Check: The new crease remains halfway to the center.

    Explore this step ↑
  12. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: goldCrease the lower wall

    STEP 11 · Traditional lidless Masu box

    Crease the lower wall

    Fold the lower edge up to the center.

    Layers: Carry every layer below the fold.

    Check: The edge meets the center line.

    Explore this step ↑
  13. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: goldOpen the lower wall

    STEP 12 · Traditional lidless Masu box

    Open the lower wall

    Return that packet to the smaller square.

    Layers: Open the same packet.

    Check: Two parallel wall creases are visible.

    Explore this step ↑
  14. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: goldOpen the top point

    STEP 13 · Traditional lidless Masu box

    Open the top point

    Unfold the original top corner all the way out.

    Layers: Open the top corner flap, keeping the left and right corners folded in.

    Check: A long pointed end extends upward.

    Explore this step ↑
  15. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: goldOpen the bottom point

    STEP 14 · Traditional lidless Masu box

    Open the bottom point

    Unfold the original bottom corner all the way out.

    Layers: Keep the left and right corner flaps in place.

    Check: A long pointed end extends downward too.

    Explore this step ↑
  16. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: goldCrease the right wall

    STEP 15 · Traditional lidless Masu box

    Crease the right wall

    Fold the right straight edge to the center.

    Layers: Move all layers to the right of the crease, including the ends.

    Check: The straight edge meets the center.

    Explore this step ↑
  17. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: goldOpen the right wall

    STEP 16 · Traditional lidless Masu box

    Open the right wall

    Unfold the right packet.

    Layers: Open every layer just folded.

    Check: The pointed strip is flat again.

    Explore this step ↑
  18. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: goldCrease the left wall

    STEP 17 · Traditional lidless Masu box

    Crease the left wall

    Fold the left straight edge to the center.

    Layers: Move the complete left packet.

    Check: The edge meets the center.

    Explore this step ↑
  19. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: goldOpen the left wall

    STEP 18 · Traditional lidless Masu box

    Open the left wall

    Unfold that packet.

    Layers: Keep both original side corner flaps folded inward.

    Check: The central square is marked by four wall creases.

    Explore this step ↑
  20. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: goldRaise the side walls

    STEP 19 · Traditional lidless Masu box

    Raise the side walls

    Lift the left and right long sides until they stand upright. Keep the central square flat.

    Layers: Both side walls rise together with their attached end material.

    Check: The walls stand at right angles to the floor.

    Explore this step ↑
  21. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: goldCollapse the top corners

    STEP 20 · Traditional lidless Masu box

    Collapse the top corners

    Lift the top end while pushing its two corner areas inward along their diagonals. Let both corners move together.

    Layers: The paired triangular gussets stay attached to the side walls and top end.

    Check: The top end stands upright; its corner triangles meet toward the middle.

    Explore this step ↑
  22. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: goldBend the top tip

    STEP 21 · Traditional lidless Masu box

    Bend the top tip

    At the existing crease one wall-height above the rim, bend the triangular tip away from the box to a right angle.

    Layers: Only the outer tip beyond that crease.

    Check: A short horizontal triangle points away from the cavity.

    Explore this step ↑
  23. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: goldWrap the top end

    STEP 22 · Traditional lidless Masu box

    Wrap the top end

    Fold the tall end flap inward over the rim, covering the collapsed corner triangles. Lower its bent tip onto the floor.

    Layers: Carry the complete end packet. Keep the side walls and corner gussets in place.

    Check: The inner end wall is covered and the original tip reaches the floor center.

    Explore this step ↑
  24. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: goldCollapse the bottom corners

    STEP 23 · Traditional lidless Masu box

    Collapse the bottom corners

    Lift the remaining pointed end and push both of its corners inward together.

    Layers: Move the remaining two attached corner gussets. Hold the completed end still.

    Check: All four outside walls now stand upright.

    Explore this step ↑
  25. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: goldBend the remaining tip

    STEP 24 · Traditional lidless Masu box

    Bend the remaining tip

    Bend the outer triangle away from the cavity on its existing crease, one wall-height above the rim.

    Layers: Only the remaining outer tip.

    Check: It makes the same right-angle bend as the first end.

    Explore this step ↑
  26. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: goldWrap and finish

    STEP 25 · Traditional lidless Masu box

    Wrap and finish

    Fold the last tall flap inward over its rim and corner triangles. Set its tip onto the floor center and gently press the box square.

    Layers: The final flap covers the gussets and lies above the floor backing.

    Check: An open square box is complete. The four original corners meet at the floor center; no lid is included.

    Explore this step ↑
Sources & notes

Traditional design; Peter Saydak tutorial and Nick Robinson diagrams at Origami.me, How to Make an Origami Box With Lid (updated March 2026).

Primary Masu box instructions ↗ · Origami Guide photo crosscheck ↗

Both references identify the Masu design as traditional. Their text, diagrams, photographs and videos have separate rights and are not reproduced here. These instructions, diagrams, geometry and printable guide are original. No project-wide reuse license is granted.

Adaptation: Uses the primary one-sheet lidless box. We keep the square in a diamond orientation, separate paired folds and reopenings, and separate each end closure into corner collapse, a right-angle bend of the outer tip away from the cavity, and a wrap over the rim. The tip bend follows the existing crease and makes the floor landing visible; it is an authored teaching sequence rather than an extra pressed crease. Origami Guide starts its initial cross creases on the other face and rotates the working box; its lid beginning at step 22 is excluded.

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. One 36-square-inch sheet with rigid face metrics, shared corner hinges and complete end-flap packets. The finished box has a square floor and four raised walls. Zero-thickness teaching geometry; paper thickness, friction and physical retention are not simulated. Real-paper folding has not been tested.