Modular Origami
Modular origami, also called unit origami, requires two or more pieces of paper. The paper is folded into a shape called a “unit” or a “module”. Many units are assembled together to form the final origami model.

The best modular origami models have the following features:
- Units are easy to fold
- Units can easily be assembled
- finished model maintains its shape without glue or tape
- finished model is pleasing to the eye.
[“FIT” by Tom Hull; photo by E Westcott]

Some units, like the Sonobe unit, are versatile. The number of units used, and the way the units are assembled can change the appearance of the final model. Charles Esseltine’s TSU can also be assembled in different ways. [Photo: “TSU” octahedron by C Esseltine]



- get free modular origami diagrams
- see other types of origami
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Books with Modular Origami
- Marvelous Modular Origami by Mukerji
- Polyhedron Origami for Beginners (Origami Classroom) by M Kawamura
- Origami Wreaths and Rings by David Petty
- Unit Origami: Multidimensional Transformations by Tomoko Fuse
- Unit Polyhedron Origami by Tomoko Fuse
- Beginner’s Book of Modular Origami Polyhedra: The Platonic Solids by Rona Gurkewitz and Bennett Arnstein
- 3-D Geometric Origami by Rona Gurkewitz and Bennett
- Modular Origami Polyhedra (Origami) by Lewis Simon, Bennett Arnstein, and Rona Gurkewitz
- Multimodular Origami Polyhedra: Archimedeans, Buckyballs and Duality by Rona Gurkewitz and Bennett Arnstein
- Unfolding Mathematics with Unit Origami by Betsy Franco
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More Origami Diagrams and Instructions…
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These free origami instructions are made available to you by the paper folding community at large. If you have a diagram you would like to share, or if your diagram is listed here and you wish to have it removed, please Contact Us. Diagrams are intended for personal use. Copyright of the models lie with the origami creators and designers. Please contact the designer and/or creator directly for non-private usage of a model and/or artwork.