You need one uncut sheet of printer paper, short edge at the top. No scissors, tape or clips. Measurements are rounded to the nearest ⅛ inch, as in the app.

moves fold line where it lands Diagrams are drawn on Letter and zoom in after the fold in half; the bar in each corner is 1 inch. Tap a diagram to watch the fold.

Fold it step by step

01
Crease down the middle
Fold the sheet in half the long way, press, and open it.
Press one sharp, straight crease.
02
Fold the top corners in
Bring the top-right corner down so the top edge lies on the center crease.
Line up the edge, then press.
03
And the left corner
Same thing on the left.
A pointy roof.
04
Fold the point down
Fold the whole triangle down along its bottom edge.
The fold runs straight across where the flaps end.
05
Fold the top down again
Fold the flat top edge down 1⅛ in (2.8 cm). Now the nose is square and thick.Fold the flat top edge down 3.0 cm (1⅛ in). Now the nose is square and thick.
This is the hammer head.
06
Fold the top corners in
Fold the top-right corner down so the top edge lies along the center crease.
This stacks extra layers at the front.
07
And the left corner
Same on the left: a pointed nose.
The two edges meet on the crease.
08
Fold it in half
Fold in half along the crease with the flaps inside.
Squeeze the nose flat.
09
Mark the tail triangle
Mark 1¾ in (4.6 cm) forward from the back of the center fold. Make another mark ⅞ in (2.2 cm) straight across from that back end. Crease through both marks, then unfold.Mark 4.6 cm (1¾ in) forward from the back of the center fold. Make another mark 2.2 cm (⅞ in) straight across from that back end. Crease through both marks, then unfold.
Fold the two sides together, press, then unfold. This is only a guide.
10
Reverse the tail into a fin
Open the back of the body a little. Push the small triangle between the sides and lift its point. Close the body around it.
Keep the wings out of the pocket. The small upright point is your tail fin.
11
Fold down the first wing
Fold the top layer down on a slant: 1¼ in (3.0 cm) from the center fold at the nose, ⅞ in (2.3 cm) from it at the tail.Fold the top layer down on a slant: 3.0 cm (1¼ in) from the center fold at the nose, 2.3 cm (⅞ in) from it at the tail.
The crease slants: farther from the center fold at the nose than at the tail. Measure both ends.
12
Fold the wingtip back
Fold the tip of this wing back over, ⅝ in (1.5 cm) in from its edge.Fold the tip of this wing back over, 1.5 cm (⅝ in) in from its edge.
This becomes a winglet.
13
Turn it over
Flip the plane over.
Nose pointing away.
14
Fold down the second wing
Fold this wing down on the same slant as the first one.
Hold them together to check.
15
Fold the other tip back
Fold this wingtip back the same amount.
Both winglets the same size.
16
Open the wings and bend the tips down
Keep the center body pinched closed. Open the wings into a shallow Y, then bend both wingtips straight down.

Check the shape

From behind: this is the view to compare with your plane.

View the center fin and downward tips from behind. The fin should stand while both tips droop by similar amounts.

Before you open the wings, hold the plane closed against a window: both wing outlines should cover each other. Fix an unequal wing crease before reaching for trim.

First flights

Launch: Hold it under the square nose and use a smooth, firm push.

Tail fin. Grip the body ahead of the fin. Pinching the tail flattens the fin you just reversed upward. Straighten it before each throw.
Drooped tips. The tips bend down on purpose. Compare them from the front and keep the droop equal; do not flatten one to fix a turn.

If it misbehaves

Dives straight down: Release level, then bend both back edges up a hair.
Climbs, then drops: Flatten those bends a little; throw nearer level.
Always turns one way: Compare the wings first. Then bend the edge on the inside of the turn down, or the outside edge up, very slightly.

Full troubleshooting guide →

The app can fly this plane in a simulator. Its distances and paths are simulation output; this page makes no claim about how far a hand-folded Magpie will fly.

More square noses

Two downward folds flatten the front into a blunt edge before a second set of corner folds. A good family for comparing wing variations on the same nose.