How to Make an Origami Bat (Easy Step-by-Step + Video)

You can fold an origami bat from a single square of black paper in under ten minutes, using nothing but your hands and a few sharp creases. This is Day 2 of our Cute-Spooky Halloween Wall Display series: you already made the felt garland on Day 1, and these bats are next in line before the ghosts join in on Day 3.

Fold eight to twelve bats from black or dark paper, and vary the angle of each pair of wings as you go. When you scatter the finished flock across the upper and middle wall on assembly day, the mismatched wing angles make it look like the bats are caught mid-flight instead of stuck in one pose.

The fold shares its base with several of our other Origami Animals, so if you’ve made an origami crane before, the first few creases will already feel familiar. It’s one of the simpler folds in our origami collection. Most beginners are done in well under fifteen minutes a bat once they’ve folded one or two, and a dozen bats costs less than a dollar in paper.

Once your flock is folded, tuck it into a box or tray until Day 7, when you’ll bring out the garland, bats, ghosts, spiders, and pumpkins together for the full display. On their own, these bats work just as well strung into a garland or clipped onto a wrapped gift.

Origami Bat at a Glance

• Difficulty: Beginner
• Time: About 10 minutes per bat
• Cost: Under $1 for a dozen
• Ages: 8 and up, younger kids with help
• Best for: Wall displays, garlands, bookmarks, and gift toppers

What You Need to Make an Origami Bat

Materials

• Black or dark craft paper, one square sheet per bat. Regular craft or origami paper folds crisply; skip cardstock, since it’s too thick to hold the smaller creases in the ears and wings. If you don’t already have craft paper on hand, this origami paper multipack has enough sheets for a whole flock (affiliate link).

Tools

• Pen or marker, for drawing the eyes once the bat is folded (a pale gel pen shows up best on black paper).
• Scissors, for trimming your paper into a clean square if it isn’t cut to size already.
• Craft glue, only if you’re cutting separate paper eyes instead of drawing them on.

Heads up: some of the supply links above are affiliate links. If you buy through them, Craftaholic Witch may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. We only link supplies we would actually use ourselves.

Watch How to Fold an Origami Bat

This video walks through all fifteen folds in real time, which helps if any single step is unclear from the photos alone.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Make the Five Basic Creases

Start with a neat square of black paper. Fold it in half top to bottom, then unfold, and fold it in half left to right, then unfold, you now have the two center creases. Fold the left and right edges in to meet that center vertical crease, then unfold each one. Those five creases, the two center folds and the two edge folds, are the guide lines for everything that follows.

Step 2: Add the Diagonal Creases

Flip the paper over. Fold it corner to corner both ways, unfolding after each one, so you end up with two diagonal creases crossing in the middle.

Step 3: Collapse the Paper Into a Star Base

Flip the paper back over. Now push the diagonal creases up and the straight creases down at the same time, letting the paper collapse into a star-shaped pattern on its own. This diamond base is the same starting shape used in an origami crane, so if you’ve folded one before, your hands already know this part.

Step 4: Flatten the Star Into a Diamond

Bring the two open corners of the star together and press the whole thing flat into a diamond shape.

Step 5: Open the Top Pocket

Lay the diamond flat with the crease-free side facing up. You’ll see two pocket-like openings; carefully lift and open the top one.

Step 6: Flatten the Front Layer

Bring the open left and right corners in to meet at the center, then press the front layer flat against the rest of the pattern.

Step 7: Fold the Bottom Point Up

Fold the bottom point of that top layer up so it meets the top edge.

Step 8: Fold the Left Flap Over

Fold the left flap over to the right side, then fold that same flap in half again.

Step 9: Reset the Left Flap

Fold that same flap back over to the left side. You’re not undoing Step 8, you’re setting a second crease that becomes the wing shape.

Step 10: Mirror the Fold on the Right Flap

Give the right flap the same two creases you just made on the left: fold it over, crease it in half, then fold it back out. Once both flaps carry a matching crease, the wing shape is set on both sides of the bat.

Step 11: Flip to the Front

Flip the whole pattern over. This side is the front of your origami bat.

Step 12: Align the Top Edge to the Center

This front side carries the center crease from Step 1. Fold the top open edge down so it lines up with that crease.

Step 13: Fold the Left Ear

Work on the left side first. Fold and press the two layers of paper at the top down together; they’ll fall into a small triangle on their own. That triangle is the bat’s left ear.

Step 14: Fold the Right Ear

Repeat Step 13 on the right side. Both ears should now be roughly the same size, straighten either one if it looks lopsided before moving on.

Step 15: Add the Face and Finish the Bat

On black paper, a pale gel pen or a small cut-paper circle shows up better than a regular pen for the eyes. On lighter paper, a plain marker works fine. Either way, your origami bat is done.

Tips for Folding a Whole Flock of Bats

• Trace and cut your paper into as close to a true square as you can. A base that’s even slightly off-square throws every later crease out of alignment.
• Your first bat will be the slowest. Expect the second and third to go noticeably faster once your hands know the sequence.
• Vary the wing angle as you flatten each bat in Steps 8 through 10. A mix of open and tucked wings is what makes a scattered flock look alive instead of a repeated pattern.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use regular paper instead of origami paper for these bats?

Yes, plain black craft paper folds just as well as origami paper for this project. Origami paper is only nicer for its uniform color and slightly thinner weight. Avoid cardstock or anything heavier, since it won’t hold the smaller creases in the ears and wings.

How long does it take to fold one origami bat?

Most beginners take ten to fifteen minutes for their first bat, and closer to five once the sequence feels familiar. That’s what makes it realistic to fold eight to twelve bats in one sitting for a full display.

Do I need a perfectly square piece of paper to start?

Yes, the base folds only line up correctly if you start from a true square. Trace one with a ruler or trim a rectangular sheet down before you begin the first crease.

How many origami bats do I need for a full Halloween wall display?

For the Cute-Spooky Halloween Wall Display series, eight to twelve bats is enough to scatter across the upper and middle wall in a loose flying shape. Vary the wing angle on each one so the group reads as a flock mid-flight rather than a repeated pattern.

How do I store finished origami bats until I’m ready to decorate?

Paper bats hold their shape well in a flat box, tray, or folder, so you can fold them well ahead of time and set them aside. Keep them somewhere they won’t get crushed, since a flattened wing crease is hard to reshape later.

More Origami Tutorials

• Origami Spiders, the Day 4 project in this same wall display series
• Origami Dove and Pigeon Birds, another Origami Animals fold

Share your finished bats in the I Made It space inside Craftaholic Community. The most-loved post each month wins a one year free Premium membership.