paper make rocket

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How to Make a Paper Rocket

Last Updated: December 5, 2023

Making the Nose Cone

Making the rocket body, adding wings, flying the rocket, things you'll need.

This article was co-authored by Jessie Antonellis-John . Jessie Antonellis-John is a Math and Science Instructor who teaches at Southwestern Oregon Community College. With over 10 years of experience, she specializes in curriculum development. Jessie earned her PhD in Teaching & Teacher Education from the University of Arizona, her Master of Education from Western Governors University, and her BS in Astrophysics from Mount Holyoke College. She’s also co-authored several peer-reviewed journal articles in professional publications. This article has been viewed 392,420 times.

Want to make an awesome paper rocket? This paper rocket is based on actual NASA blueprints, and will really fly. With a few simple materials and a little handiwork, you’ll be able to blast off into infinity and beyond in no time!

Things You Should Know

• Draw a circle on paper, cut it out, and roll it up to create a tight cylinder. Secure the cylinder with tape.
• Draw a 5 in × 5 in (13 cm × 13 cm) square and cut it out. Roll the square up to make a larger cylinder and seal the seam with tape.
• Cut out 2 small triangles and tape them to the larger cylinder.
• Insert a plastic straw into the open end of the larger cylinder. Blow into the straw to launch your rocket.

• Place your plastic cup on a clean area of the paper, bottom side down.
• Trace around the bottom to make a perfect circle.
• Make a small dot in the center of the circle.
• Draw a small triangle with the tip ending at the circle. It should look like a slice of pie that is about 1/8th the size of the circle. [1] X Research source
• Cut out the triangle piece. Now your circle will look like Pacman.
• Fold down the right and left flaps to form a cone. It will look kind of like a teepee or a party hat.
• Hold it on the top and bottom with two hands and twirl it around in your finger to turn it into a pointy cone.
• Use tape to seal the cone. One piece should be enough to hold the seams in place and keep your cone tight, like a dunce cap or ice cream cone.
• Put the cone on one of the rocket ends and tape them together.
• It’s okay if the cone is a little bigger than the body, just make sure you mold it tightly around the cylinder and tightly seal it with tape.
• You can test the seal by blowing into the open end of the cylinder. If some air leaks out, use more tape to seal it up.

Take your time, there’s no rush. You want your rocket body to be sleek and clean, so try to cut true to the lines you drew. [6] X Research source

• Place the corner of your square at the tip of the pencil with the rest of the paper pointing towards the eraser.
• Wrap the paper tightly around the pencil. You want to make this as tightly wrapped as possible. Keep rolling until you use all the paper to make a small, tight cylinder around the pencil. [8] X Research source
• Carefully wiggle the pencil out of the cylinder while holding the paper so that it stays rolled.
• Gently use the thumb and forefinger of your other hand to push down on the top and bottom of the cylinder to make sure it’s even.
• Tape around the seams in three different places (top, middle, bottom) to make sure the cylinder stays rolled. Now you’ve got a body for your rocket!

• You want the shortest part of your triangle to be at the base of the cylinder, with the tall vertical part running up the cylinder’s body.
• The diagonal part of the triangle (also called the hypotenuse) should look like a fin extending from the body of your rocket.

Community Q&A

Video . By using this service, some information may be shared with YouTube.

• Experiment by changing the wing size, shape, and number to see how these affect your rocket’s flight. [14] X Research source Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
• Tightly seal all your seams with tape. You don’t want any air leaking out. Tight seals will keep all the air inside the rocket and make it fly better. Thanks Helpful 3 Not Helpful 0
• Have your tape pre-cut into strips and waiting for you on the edge of your table. This will make it easier to tape your rocket pieces while having your hands free to cut and roll the paper. Thanks Helpful 2 Not Helpful 1

• Be careful not to aim the rocket towards anyone because the rocket could poke out an eye. Thanks Helpful 3 Not Helpful 2
• Regular 8x11 paper. You can use regular white computer printing paper, or color paper if you want a fancier rocket. Do not use cardstock or construction paper -- they are not as easy to roll or bend.
• Scotch tape.
• A thin drinking straw.
• Scissors. If you doing this activity with kids, consider using safety scissors.
• A small plastic drinking cup, like the kind typically used at kid's parties.

You Might Also Like

• ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kPncAiZlFcY
• ↑ https://www.grc.nasa.gov/www/k-12/rocket/TRCRocket/paper_rocket.html
• ↑ https://prezi.com/_mr9bjmtzh1e/paper-rocket-aerodynamics/
• ↑ https://www.nakka-rocketry.net/fins.html

About This Article

To make a paper rocket, cut out a 5 by 5 inch paper square, a paper circle the size of a plastic cup, and two paper triangles that are 2 inches long and 1 inch wide. Wrap the paper square around a pencil tightly so it forms a cylinder, tape it, and remove it from around the pencil. Cut the circle so it looks like Pacman, tape it into a cone, and tape the cone to the top of the cylinder. Finally, tape the two triangles to the bottom of the cylinder to create wings. You now have a paper rocket! For tips on how to fly your rocket, scroll down! Did this summary help you? Yes No

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Flying Paper Rocket in 9 Easy Steps

Introduction: Flying Paper Rocket in 9 Easy Steps

hey friends !

Here's how you can make your own paper rocket very easily. you can launch it and if made accurately can go up to 1000 feet in the air. its really amazing and you'll enjoy making it and of course sending it high in the air.

check out the video for more info.

Step 1: Material Required

You'll need the following materials which are very easily available at home.

1. A sheet of paper ( A4 works best )

2. scissors

3.a big rubber band or elastic band.

once you've got these material you're all set for the launch .

Step 2: Getting Started

So in the first step make a vertical crease in the centre of the paper and fold as shown in the images along the crease

Follow the folds show in the image , make creases shown and fold along them.

After done with step 3 fold the paper on the vertical crease.

Now make a crease as shown and fold along it.

Now once you're done with step 4 make a small diagonal cut on the open side of the rocket as shown in the image.

Now open the rocket from the vertical crease. you'll have 2 diagonal cuts on both sides of the rocket.

fold the lower part of the rocket ( part below the cut ) on both sides as show in the images.

Now again close the rocket by folding along the vertical crease as show in the image.

Step 9: All Set for the Launch

You're now all set for the launch.

to launch take 2 rubber bands and join the together as show in the image and then hook one end of the band in the cut of the rocket and hold the other in your hand now pull back the rocket as much as you can an launch high in the air .

Don't point the rocket or shoot it on anyone's face, it goes really fast. its the quality of the rubber band which decides how high your rocket will go. with a good quality elastic band it goes up to a 1000 feet

Participated in the Three Ingredient Challenge

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27 Comments

Question 2 years ago on Step 1

What other things can you use instead of the rubber/elastic band? would hair ties work?

Answer 2 years ago

you could but rubber bands would be better :)

2 years ago

I think this would be great in the toys and games contest :)

7 years ago

I didn't understand how to make the Launch, can you explain me?

Reply 2 years ago

Put the rubber band into the notch and pull back the rocket and release

Great fun, thanks

8 years ago

Could we see a video?

Reply 8 years ago

yeah ... there's a video attached, you can take a look

Tried it, but the instructions are unfortunately very very unclear. I could follow until the step where I need to make the cut but there I am completely lost. Would be nice if you could clarify this step in more detail, maybe with more pictures.

why don't you check the attached video, it will help.....

in step 2. First fold the paper 1/4" from the top and then follow step 2.

After step 9, make small cut of 1/4" in the tail. It should be 1/2" from the tail end. Unfold the paper slightly to create air resistance. This paper rocket will go nearly in straight line so operate with care.

this is a clever modification. ten points!

To make the front tip heavy, the paper should be folded perpendicular to main fold line. Secondly, at the back end make small cut and open the fold. This will give a small air resistance. Like feathers on the arrow. This paper rocket goes in a straight line. We use it to shoo away annoying crows and cats in Mumbai, india

I wish you could be more specific how and where the perpendicular and the cut were done / made, exactly with measurements. I think you are on to something important. The details would help.

I want to make flight possible ! Defying Gravity must be a fact! ?

I got lost at step 5. I couldn't figure out what the folds are from the photo.

Loop the rubber band(s), on the end of a length of wood dowel or a pencil, for a handle, is what I did way back in the day.

I love it! It makes for a great cat toy, flying back and forth across a room. \o/

Brilliant! So easy to make, and really effective.

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Build a Paper Rocket

Introduction

Blast off! Have you ever played with a model or toy rocket, or seen a real rocket launch on TV? In this project you will make simple rockets out of paper and launch them by blowing into a drinking straw. Can you make the rocket that flies the farthest?

• Two pieces of paper
• Drinking straw
• Clear space in which to launch your "rockets," such as a large room, hallway or outdoor area with no wind
• Measuring tape (optional)

Instructions

• Cut one piece of paper into four smaller rectangles, by cutting it in half lengthwise and widthwise. This will allow you to make four rockets.
• Wrap one of the paper rectangles around a pencil to form a cylinder, with the long edge of the paper along the length of the pencil.
• Tape the cylinder closed so it does not unravel (but do not tape it to the pencil).
• Slide the cylinder off the pencil. Pinch one end of the cylinder shut and seal it with tape. (This is the "front" end of your rocket.) Leave the other end open. This will be your first rocket, with no fins.
• Launch your rocket a few more times to see if it flies the same way. If you would like to record your rocket flight distances, be sure to launch it from the same place each time, and measure to the landing spot with a tape measure.
• Make another paper rocket following the previous steps. Remember to pinch one end and tape it shut.

• Draw a line that splits one triangle in half (from the 90-degree corner to the middle of the long side of the triangle).
• Draw two lines parallel to the first line (one on each side), about five millimeters away from it.
• Now, fold the triangle up along these two lines. The result should be two triangles sticking up in the air (the fins), with a flat part connecting them in between.
• Tape the flat part to the side of your cylinder, toward the open end (the base, or bottom, of your rocket).
• Repeat these steps for the other triangle, and tape it to your cylinder on the opposite side of the first one. The result should be four fins that form a "+" shape when you look at the rocket from either end. If necessary, bend the fins so they are spaced out 90 degrees apart from one another.
• Launch it a few more times. If you are measuring the flight distance of each rocket, use a tape measure and record how far it flew.

What Happened?

You should have seen that your finless rocket flew straight at first but quickly spiraled out of control. It might have tumbled through the air and fluttered to the ground, almost like a leaf falling from a tree. This is because the rocket did not have fins to keep it stable. If it started turning just a little bit, then it would start turning even more rapidly until it completely lost control. In contrast, your second rocket that had fins should have flown straight, and traveled much farther as a result. This is because the fins help keep the rocket stable, or pointed in the same direction. If the rocket turns a little bit, the fins help turn it back in the original direction.

Digging Deeper

All flying objects, from rockets to airplanes to birds, have something in common—they need to remain stable when they fly. You are probably pretty familiar with what "stability" means for objects on the ground. Did you use training wheels when you learned how to ride a bike? Training wheels help keep the bike stable so you do not fall over. The same concept applies to things that fly. They need to stay pointed in the same direction when they fly forward, without spinning or tumbling, which could cause them to crash.

You may have noticed that rockets and missiles usually have triangular fins at their bases. The same applies to other long, skinny objects that fly through the air quickly, such as arrows. In this project you found out how these fins can help a rocket fly straight. The fins make sure the rocket's center of pressure (the point where the equivalent force from air resistance acts) is behind its center of mass (the "middle" of the rocket, or equivalent point where all its mass is concentrated). See the links from NASA in the Additional Resources section for a more detailed explanation.

Ask an Expert

For further exploration.

• Try different numbers of fins. For example, what happens if you only use two fins instead of four?
• Try different shapes for fins. For example, what happens if you make semicircular fins instead of triangles?
• Try attaching the fins at different points along the length of your rocket. Do the fins still work if you put them in the middle or front of the rocket instead of the back?

Related Resources

• NASA: Rocket Stability
• NASA: Rocket Stability Condition

Explore Our Science Videos

Toilet Paper Roll Rocket Craft

This fun toilet paper roll rocket craft is the perfect craft to do during any space unit at school or for a fun project at home. Your kids will love using their imagination as they zoom these to the moon! 

Toilet Paper Rocket Craft

Who doesn’t have toilet paper tubes lying around? I hate to just throw them away though, so I try to save a bunch of them for fun craft projects with the kids like my Toilet Paper Roll Satellite Craft or even our Toilet Paper Roll R2D2 Craft !

Recently my kids have been obsessed with space and for good reason, so we decided to create this fun toilet paper rocket craft so they can blast off to the moon on their next imaginary adventure. 

Be sure to download the template for this craft at the end of the post! 

• Colored paper
• Toilet paper roll 

Printable Template

Not quite ready to join our email list where we share free and paid products and fun ideas? That is ok! Purchase the template below!

Directions to Make a Toilet Paper Roll Rocket Craft

Select a piece of colored paper for the rocket craft. Use yellow and orange for the flame patterns and select a different color for the rest of the project. Trace and cut out the patterns nicely. 

• Stick the flame cutouts together, the small cutout on the medium cutout, and then the medium cutout on the big cutout. Stick the small round cutouts on the relatively big round cutouts; these are the windows of the rocket. 

Wrap the toilet paper roll with a piece of craft paper. 

Stick round window cutouts on the toilet paper roll, one under the other one. Stick the flame cutout on the bottom side of the roll, gluing the flame pattern towards the inner side of the roll. 

• Grab the stand cutouts and attach them to the roll by inserting the slits through the roll from the bottom end. 

Check if the toilet paper roll can be placed straight up on the stands. 

Prepare the cone template pattern. 

Roll the cone template to create a cone. Apply glue at the open ends to secure the cone pattern. 

• Attach the paper cone to the top end of the toilet paper roll rocket pattern to complete the craft. 

Tips Tricks and FAQs

• This is a fun project for 6-year-olds and above with supervision. If younger children would like to build one, you might want to precut the pieces for them. 
• Get creative! You can easily decorate your rocket ship however you would like once it is together. 
• Be sure to encourage your kids to use their imaginations as they play with their rocket ships once they are built and put together. 

Space Rocket Activity Book for The Classroom or Home Use

Looking for a fun and educational activity book for your classroom? Check out this space rocket activity book! It is packed with activities that will help your students learn about space. The fun illustrations and activities will keep students engaged while they learn.

More Fun Space Ideas

Space is one of those things that I don’t think anyone ever gets sick of. To this day my family and I love to go outside at night and look at the stars and try to find the constellations. As a family, go outside and see what constellations you can spot. 

If you live close enough, plan a trip to NASA or turn on the NASA channel, to let your kids see what a real spaceship is like. 

Another great space project is to create a sensory bin with the kids. Put in small planets , spaceships, and other space objects for them to dig through rice and find. 

Don’t forget to read about space! Grab There’s No Place Like Space All About Our Solar System ” for younger kids and then for older kids who are really into space they will love the Space book by Smithsonian for an up-close amazing look into space! 

This fun toilet paper roll rocket craft is the perfect craft to do during any space unit at school or for a fun project at home. Your kids will love using their imagination as they zoom these to the moon! 

• Toilet paper roll

Instructions

Stick the flame cutouts together, the small cutout on the medium cutout and then the medium cutout on the big cutout. Stick the small round cutouts on the relatively big round cutouts; these are the windows of the rocket. 

Step 5: 

Grab the stand cutouts and attach them with the roll by inserting the slits through the roll from the bottom end. 

Attach the paper cone on the top end of the toilet paper roll rocket pattern to complete the craft. 

• This is a fun project for 6-year-olds and above with supervision. If younger children would like to build one, you might want to precut the pieces for them. 
• Get creative! You can easily decorate your rocket ship however you would like once it is together. 
• Be sure to encourage your kids to use their imaginations as they play with their rocket ships once they are built and put together. 

How Do I Print A PDF?

You’ll need a program that supports PDFs. Adobe Acrobat is a great option. Open the program, click file then print. Select your printer and the number of copies you want to print. Be sure you click double-sided if you want it to print on both sides. 

Can I Resell These?

You may not resell any printable or template that you find on our website or received in your email. You may use them for class parties, at church, at home, or in the classroom. You may get these printed at an office supply store or copy center at your own expense.

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