Few decorations say Halloween quite like a bat silhouette against the wall. This little origami bat looks impressively spooky, but the truth is it folds up fast from a single sheet of black paper.

The magic moment is when you snip the wings and unfold them into that classic jagged shape. Hang a few in different sizes around the room, and you've got an instant haunted-house vibe—no glue, no mess, just paper, scissors, and a few minutes.

This time, I’ll show you how to fold an origami bat.

At Halloween, bats and ghosts are just as essential as pumpkins, so they belong in any seasonal decoration.

This bat is easy to fold, which makes it perfect for decorating your home or making with your kids.

Let’s learn how to fold an origami bat for your Halloween decorations!

How to Fold an Origami Halloween Bat

For this origami you’ll need one sheet of black paper (or any bat-colored sheet).

You’ll also use scissors to shape the wings, so young children should ask an adult for help.

The finished bat looks cool—almost like a little Batman emblem with a sly grin.

Fold the paper in half to form a triangle, then unfold to leave a crease.

Unfold it, rotate it 90 degrees to the right, and fold it in half to form an inverted triangle.

Fold the bottom corner upward so that it protrudes about 2 cm.

Turn it over, rotate it 90 degrees to the left, and fold the bottom side up as shown.

Fold the bottom and about half of the center line down at the same angle as before.

In the same way, fold the upper side down and then fold it up.

Turn it over so that the left corner is at the bottom, and fold it left and right along the dotted line to make the bat’s tail.

Pinch the upper part and fold it toward you to form the bat’s face. Fold it however you like.

Sharpen the center of the face upward to form the bat’s mouth.

Fold it in half and place it so the bat’s face points to the left.

Cut the lower edge freely with scissors, as shown, to give it the shape of bat wings.

Cut the upper edge freely with scissors.

When you open it up, you’ll see the bat’s wings.

Adjust the angle of the bat’s face and wings, and you’re done!

Great job! How did it turn out?

In the photo it looks cool and maybe a little difficult, but it’s surprisingly easy to fold. The silhouette also looks great standing up on its own.