Origami Sea Turtle Printable Instructions

Let’s learn how to fold a traditional origami sea turtle, a simple model with a clean, flat design that works well for cards or decorations. The finished turtle has a broad shell with four pointed flippers extending outward, along with a small head and tail. The low, spread-out silhouette gives it a calm, steady look. This is a beginner-friendly model folded from a bird base. Most of the steps are straightforward, and near the end, a cut is used to form the back flippers. If you’d prefer a version without cutting, we also have another origami turtle tutorial on the site that is slightly more advanced.

• Designed by a traditional design
• Diagrams by Nick Robinson
• Difficulty: Easy
• Number of steps: 27
• Number of pages: 5
• Recommended paper: 6 x 6 in (15 x 15 cm) origami paper (Kami)

Full step-by-step tutorial with video