How to Draw a Paper Airplane (Easy Step by Step)
A paper airplane is a great first drawing because it is made of just a few straight lines. Add a puffy cloud and a dashed loop that shows where the plane flew, and the picture tells a little story.
- Easy
- 10 minutes
- 5 steps
You need: paper, a pencil, an eraser, and crayons or markers for coloring.
Start drawingIn this article (7 sections)
How to draw a paper airplane step by step
How to Draw a Paper Airplane · tinyhandscreate.com
Step 1: Top wing edge
Start at the pointy tip in the top right. Draw a long straight line down and to the left, then turn a sharp corner and draw a short line going down and to the right.
Step 2: The right wing
Start near the tip again and draw a long line down to a point at the bottom. Then draw a short line from that point up and to the left, to meet the end of the first wing's short line.
Step 3: Two center folds
Draw two straight lines that start close together at the tip and spread apart as they go down. One ends on the short wing line and the other ends where the two wings meet.
Step 4: The puffy cloud
In the bottom left corner, draw a cloud with a flat bottom and a few round bumps along the top, with the biggest bump in the middle. Close the shape so it is one outline.
Step 5: The dashed trail
Starting near the plane, draw a trail of short dashes that loops around in a rough circle, then heads down toward the cloud. Leave small gaps between the dashes and end with a dot near the cloud.
All done!
Go over your lines with a marker, then color it in.
Finished your paper airplane? Keep the pencils out and learn how to draw a rocket or how to draw a shooting star next.
Tips for drawing a paper airplane
- Start every wing line from the same tip at the top right so all the lines meet in one spot.
- Draw the two center fold lines lightly first. They should spread apart a little as they go down, like a narrow V.
- For the dashed trail, make short dashes and leave gaps about the same size. Let the trail curl into a loop before it heads to the cloud.
Free paper airplane coloring page
Want to go straight to coloring? Open this paper airplane coloring page at full size and print it. It is the same drawing you just learned, with clean lines ready for crayons or markers.
How to color your paper airplane drawing
Color the plane light blue or red and the cloud soft gray or sky blue. For a creative twist, give each dash in the trail a different rainbow color.
Paper airplane fun fact for kids
The world record for the longest paper airplane flight is over 226 feet, set in 2012 by a plane folded by Joe Ayoob and thrown by Arnold Ruppert.
Questions about drawing a paper airplane
What shapes do I need to draw a paper airplane?
You need straight lines that make triangle shapes. The wings share a pointy tip, and the cloud is made of round bumps.
How do I make my paper airplane look like it is flying?
Draw a dashed trail behind it with a loop in the middle. Tilt the whole plane so the tip points up toward a corner of the page.
How do I draw a dashed line that looks neat?
Make each dash about the same length and leave small, even gaps. Try drawing a light solid line first, then go over it with dashes.
