There’s something magical about folding a plain piece of paper and watching it glide across the room. Whether you’re aiming for distance, airtime, or a smooth glide, making the perfect paper airplane doesn’t have to be complicated. In fact, the best design for beginners is also one of the best-performing — and it’s only a few folds away.
This guide walks you through how to make a paper airplane that’s easy enough for kids, but cool enough for adults to get hooked on. No tricky steps, no scissors, no tape. Just one sheet of paper and your two hands.
Let’s get folding.
Why This Airplane Works
This model is often called “The Dart” or “The Classic.” It’s the go-to paper airplane design for one simple reason: it flies. It’s fast, cuts through the air, and can go a long way when thrown just right.
It’s great for indoor flight, classrooms, competitions, or just launching off the front porch.
What You Need
- One sheet of paper (standard 8.5×11 inch works great)
- A flat surface
- Your hands
That’s it. No scissors, no glue, no paperclips. Just fold and fly.
If you want better performance, use crisp, lightweight printer paper — not notebook paper. The smoother and flatter, the better.
Step-by-Step: How to Make the Perfect Paper Airplane
Step 1: Fold the Paper in Half Lengthwise
Take your sheet and fold it in half the long way (hot dog style). Make a sharp crease, then unfold. This crease is your center line and will guide all your next folds.
Step 2: Fold the Top Corners Down
Fold the top right corner in to meet the center line. Do the same with the top left corner. You’ll now have a point at the top, like a house roof or triangle.
Step 3: Fold the New Triangle Down
Take that triangle point and fold it straight down so its tip touches the bottom edge of your paper. You’ve now created a flap that locks the top folds in place.
Step 4: Fold the Top Corners in Again
Now take the outer top corners and fold them in toward the center line again, just like before, but this time they’ll fold over the small flap you just created. The flaps should meet right at the center line and form a sharper point.
You’ll now see a longer, sleeker triangle at the top.
Step 5: Fold the Plane in Half
Fold the whole airplane in half, away from you, along the center line so all your folds are on the outside.
Step 6: Fold the Wings
Take the top edge of one side and fold it down to the bottom edge. This creates your wing. Flip the plane over and do the same on the other side.
You should now have a classic dart shape with two wings pointing out and a thick center.
Step 7: Adjust the Wing Tips (Optional)
For better glide and lift, you can slightly fold up the ends of both wings — just a small upward crease. This creates winglets, which help keep your airplane stable and prevent it from nosediving.
Step 8: Ready to Fly
Hold your airplane at the bottom, right where the center crease is. Give it a gentle but firm throw straight ahead — not too hard, not too high. The perfect paper airplane should fly level, smooth, and straight for a good distance.
Tips to Make It Fly Farther
- Throw gently but firmly — too hard and it’ll nosedive, too soft and it won’t go anywhere.
- Make your folds sharp — use your fingernail or a flat edge like a ruler.
- Fly indoors — wind can mess with your airplane’s flight path.
- Try heavier paper — if your plane flips or stalls, use a slightly thicker sheet.
Paper to Use for Best Flight
Here are some great paper choices if you want to experiment with performance:
- Standard 20 lb printer paper: Great balance of weight and flexibility.
- 28–32 lb premium paper: Adds distance and structure.
- Glossy magazine paper: Smoother, but harder to fold — fun for experiments.
Stay away from construction paper or tissue paper — they’re too heavy or too flimsy.
Common Mistakes and How to Fix Them
Plane nosedives: Your wings are tilted down or your nose is too heavy. Fold the wing tips up slightly or throw with less force.
Plane stalls or flips: The wings may be too curved upward. Try flattening the folds and adding some weight to the nose (like a tiny bit of tape).
Plane veers left or right: Check that your wings are even. One may be folded slightly off.
Bonus Challenge: Decorate Your Plane
Want to take it to the next level? Try decorating your paper airplane with flames, racing stripes, or even your pilot name. Just be sure to color before folding — markers after folding can mess up the balance.
Or build a paper aircraft fleet and challenge your friends to distance or accuracy contests.
Final Thoughts
The perfect paper airplane doesn’t need to be complicated. This simple dart-style design is proof that less is more when it comes to flight. With just a few folds and a little fine-tuning, you’ll have a plane that soars far and fast — and can be remade in seconds.
The best part? Once you’ve mastered this model, you can start experimenting. Add flaps, try different wing shapes, or even turn it into a glider.
Fold it. Fly it. And chase it down for one more throw.