Credits and Resources:
Design: Lindy van der Merwe/Traditional/Unknown
Text-Only Tutorial © 2026 by Lindy van der Merwe
accessorigami.com
Paper to be used: eight squares (four for the box and four for the lid), any size; any paper that is somewhat flexible and that will hold creases well should work for this model.
Folding level: Easy/Beginner
Steps: 21

Description:
This is a fairly high box, made from eight similar-sized squares - four for the bottom of the box and four for the lid.
The units are slid into each other from above, so the joining method is quite easy, except for the last two units where some light bending of the paper will be needed.
If you use flexible paper, this should not be too much of a problem and you should be able to make two boxes of the same size and fit one over the other to serve as a lid.
Although the model is not difficult to fold and assemble, try to be as accurate with your folds as possible, since the model relies on all the units to fit snugly together for the box to turn out well.
The finished model has four overlapping square areas that you can fold from one color, or you could use two or four different colors.

PHASE 1: CREATING A UNIT

Step 1

Place a square down with its edges to the left and right, top and bottom.

Step 2

Fold the bottom edge up to meet the top edge.
Crease and leave folded.

Step 3

Fold the top edge, the front layer only, down to meet the bottom edge.
Crease well and leave folded.

Step 4

Flip the figure over from left to right to reveal a rectangle with a smooth surface.

Step 5

Fold the top single-layered edge down to meet the bottom edge.
Crease and unfold this edge to reveal a center horizontal valley crease line.

Step 6

We are now going to fold all four of our corners inwards as follows:

  • 6.1 Start with the two top single-layered corners and fold them diagonally down so the left and right edges will meet the center horizontal line from the previous step.
    Crease well and leave folded.
  • 6.2 Likewise, fold the two bottom corners, all the layers, diagonally upwards so they meet the same horizontal center line as well.
    Crease well and leave folded.

Result: Your model will now be a six-sided shape, with a horizontal fold line and four folded corners.
You will notice that the bottom half of the shape has more layers than the top at this point.

Step 7

Next, we are going to create a vertical crease. Think of the left pointy end of the shape as a single triangle. Fold this triangle over on itself, to the right, so it will lie on top of the main part of the unit. Crease well along the left side of the unit and then unfold the triangle.

Step 8

Repeat Step 7 with the triangle on the right of the figure. Crease well and unfold so you have the six-sided shape again.

Step 9

Close the shape by bringing the top edge down along the existing horizontal crease.
Make sure that all the corners match each other and are folded neatly to the inside of the shape that will now resemble a flat boat with vertical crease lines on the left and right at the front and back of the shape.

Step 10

We are now going to form our unit into its final, 3D shape, using the vertical crease lines just mentioned.
To do this, do the following:

  • 10.1 Open the boat shape by lifting up the long edge nearest you, while keeping the opposite side of the boat flat on the table.
    The side nearest you should now stand up at a 90-degree angle in relation to the table, like a wall.
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    MOD60 - MODULAR ORIGAMI - BOX FOR BEGINNERS (FROM 8 SQUARES)

    Credits and Resources:
    Design: Lindy van der Merwe/Traditional/Unknown
    Text-Only Tutorial copyright 2026 by: Lindy van der Merwe
    accessorigami.com
    Paper to be used: eight squares (four for the box and four for the lid), any size; any paper that is somewhat flexible and that will hold creases well should work for this model.
    Folding level: Easy/Beginner
    Steps: 21

    Description:
    This is a fairly high box, made from eight similar-sized squares - four for the bottom of the box and four for the lid.
    The units are slid into each other from above, so the joining method is quite easy, except for the last two units where some light bending of the paper will be needed.
    If you use flexible paper, this should not be too much of a problem and you should be able to make two boxes of the same size and fit one over the other to serve as a lid.
    Although the model is not difficult to fold and assemble, try to be as accurate with your folds as possible, since the model relies on all the units to fit snugly together for the box to turn out well.
    The finished model has four overlapping square areas that you can fold from one color, or you could use two or four different colors.

    PHASE 1: CREATING A UNIT

    Step 1

    Place a square down with its edges to the left and right, top and bottom.

    Step 2

    Fold the bottom edge up to meet the top edge.
    Crease and leave folded.

    Step 3

    Fold the top edge, the front layer only, down to meet the bottom edge.
    Crease well and leave folded.

    Step 4

    Flip the figure over from left to right to reveal a rectangle with a smooth surface.

    Step 5

    Fold the top single-layered edge down to meet the bottom edge.
    Crease and unfold this edge to reveal a center horizontal valley crease line.

    Step 6

    We are now going to fold all four of our corners inwards as follows:

    • 6.1 Start with the two top single-layered corners and fold them diagonally down so the left and right edges will meet the center horizontal line from the previous step.
      Crease well and leave folded.
    • 6.2 Likewise, fold the two bottom corners, all the layers, diagonally upwards so they meet the same horizontal center line as well.
      Crease well and leave folded.

    Result: Your model will now be a six-sided shape, with a horizontal fold line and four folded corners.
    You will notice that the bottom half of the shape has more layers than the top at this point.

    Step 7

    Next, we are going to create a vertical crease. Think of the left pointy end of the shape as a single triangle. Fold this triangle over on itself, to the right, so it will lie on top of the main part of the unit. Crease well along the left side of the unit and then unfold the triangle.

    Step 8

    Repeat Step 7 with the triangle on the right of the figure. Crease well and unfold so you have the six-sided shape again.

    Step 9

    Close the shape by bringing the top edge down along the existing horizontal crease.
    Make sure that all the corners match each other and are folded neatly to the inside of the shape that will now resemble a flat boat with vertical crease lines on the left and right at the front and back of the shape.

    Step 10

    We are now going to form our unit into its final, 3D shape, using the vertical crease lines just mentioned.
    To do this, do the following:

    • 10.1 Open the boat shape by lifting up the long edge nearest you, while keeping the opposite side of the boat flat on the table.
      The side nearest you should now stand up at a 90-degree angle in relation to the table, like a wall.
    • 10.2 Grasp the left and right corners of the boat and press them towards each other until they flatten out, forming two square panels or the sides of a box-like shape.

    Step 11

    We are going to reinforce these square panels next.

    • 11.1 Keeping the unit on the table, rotate it to the right, so that one of its short sides is facing you. This short side will be a square that is made up of two triangles.
    • 11.2 Lift the unit slightly and pinch the bottom and left edges of the square into strong, straight, neat mountain folds; return it to the table.
    • 11.3 Rotate the unit on the table to the right 180-degrees and repeat Step 11.2.
      This time you will pinch the bottom and right edges of the square; return the unit to the table.

    Step 12

    For the last time, rotate the unit 90-degrees to the left, so its open side is facing you.
    Result: You will now have a 3D shape that will look like a long box with a bottom and three sides.
    Specifically, it will have a floor part with a long, high back wall and two square side walls with triangular pockets that will be used for assembly.

    PHASE 2: FOLD MORE UNITS

    You will need three more similar units for the bottom of the box.

    PHASE 3: ASSEMBLING YOUR MODEL

    * Explanation:
    Each unit will have a large, fairly long wall part and a floor part of the same size. These parts are at a 90-degree angle in relation to each other.
    * Important: You will notice that the shorter, left and right sides of the unit are made up of two triangles. Actually, the triangles form pockets on both sides of the unit.
    When placing down your units, always make sure the openings of the pockets are facing diagonally down towards the table.
    The pockets will extend around the corner of the unit, forming a kind of pocket at the back of the unit as well.
    In essence, we will join our units by placing the corner of one so it fits snugly over the corner of another.
    This will soon make sense.

    Step 13

    Place unit 1 in front of you from left to right with its open side facing you and the openings of the pockets facing diagonally downwards towards the table.

    Step 14

    Place unit 2 on the right of unit 1, so one of its short sides is nearest you.
    The openings of its pockets should also face diagonally downwards towards the table.
    These two units are going to form the furthest and right sides of the box.

    Step 15

    Now, hold unit 2 in the air so its furthest corner lines up with the right corner of unit 1.

    Step 16

    Slightly pull the outer layers of the corner of unit 2 away from the main body of the unit and firmly press down unit 2 so it will slide down over the right corner of unit 1.
    Units 1 and 2 should now be joined.

    Step 17

    Rotate the assembly 90-degrees to the left so unit 2 is now in front of you from left to right.

    Step 18

    Join unit 3 in exactly the same way as you did unit 2.

    Step 19

    Once again, rotate the model 90-degrees to the left and insert unit 4 so it fits over the right corner of unit 3.
    For the moment, let the nearest corner of unit 4 come to rest on the inside of the box.

    Step 20

    For the final step of our box we need to bring the corner of unit 1 out from underneath unit 4 while making sure all the other corners stay in place.
    Put another way, units 1 and 4 will need to switch places. The best way to do this is to hold the box firmly with one hand and gently pull unit 4 to the side so it will slip in underneath the corner of unit 1, which will now be on top, forming the right corner nearest you.
    All that remains is to slightly open unit 1, lifting it up a little and then let it slide down over the corner of unit 4.

    Step 21

    Reinforce all the corners and make sure the units meet nicely at the center of the box.
    You will notice that the inside and outside of the model have a tiled pattern, where the squares cover one another in a continuous overlapping fashion. This pattern is also visible on the corners, featuring diagonal slanting folds that all face with their openings in the same direction.
    * Note: To add a lid, create a second box using the instructions above and if folded from paper with medium flexibility, the lid should fit perfectly on top of the box.
    Remember, it may take a few tries for you to make the box look nice, since although the model is not complicated, it does rely on crisp, accurate folding.

    Making origami accessible through text-based tutorials.
    For non-commercial use only.
    Compiled by Lindy van der Merwe, September 2026
    This text is © 2026 by accessorigami.com
    and the authors.