The Classic Dart (Easiest, Flies Fast)

  1. 1

    Fold in half lengthways

    Place an A4 sheet of paper in portrait orientation. Fold it in half lengthways (hotdog fold). Press the crease firmly, then unfold — you now have a centre crease guide.

  2. 2

    Fold both top corners to the centre line

    Fold the top-right corner down so its edge aligns with the centre crease. Repeat on the left. You now have a pointed top with two diagonal folds meeting at the centre.

  3. 3

    Fold the diagonal edges to the centre again

    Take the new right slanted edge and fold it again to the centre crease. Repeat on the left. The nose is now narrower and more pointed.

  4. 4

    Fold in half along the centre crease

    Fold the entire plane in half along the original centre crease, with all the folds on the inside.

  5. 5

    Fold the wings down

    Fold one wing down so its edge aligns with the bottom of the plane. Flip and repeat on the other side. The wings should be even.

  6. 6

    Throw with a firm, slightly upward flick

    Hold the plane at the bottom fold. Throw with a smooth, firm motion at a slight upward angle (about 10–15 degrees). Too steep and it stalls; too flat and it nose-dives.

The Glider (Flies Longest)

For a longer-flying plane, stop after step 3 (do not fold in half). Instead, fold the whole shape back so the nose points back toward you by about 1cm — this creates a stub nose. Then fold wings down wide and flat. Throw gently with very little force — this design glides slowly and far.

Tips for longer flightsUse fresh, uncreased paper. Sharp, flat folds always beat soft ones. Slightly curl the back edges of the wings upward (elevators) to help the plane glide rather than dive. Throw smoothly — a snappy throw makes it go faster but usually not further.

Troubleshooting

  • Nose-dives: Bend the back edges of both wings slightly upward
  • Veers left or right: Check wings are symmetrical — one may be folded higher than the other
  • Stalls and drops: Throw with a little more force or angle slightly more downward

Frequently Asked Questions

The world record for paper airplane flight distance is 88.318 metres, set by Dillon Ruble, Nathaniel Erickson and Joe Ayoob in 2022 in California, USA. The design was created specifically for distance and uses a very different fold to a standard dart.
Yes — standard 80gsm A4 office paper is ideal. Thinner paper (like newspaper) does not hold folds well. Thicker paper (card) is too heavy to glide. Copy paper works perfectly. Avoid glossy or textured paper which does not crease cleanly.