How to Make a Paper Pinwheel

By
Nora Nalle
Nora Nalle
Nora Nalle

Nora Nalle is a kids' crafts expert, writer, and teacher with almost a decade of experience creating crafts and STEM craft tutorials for children. She was also a craft stylist for for the "All You Frightfully Fun Halloween Handbook," which focuses on kids' Halloween projects.

Learn more about The Spruce Crafts' Editorial Process
Updated on 11/12/24
Wind wheel paper real toy on white color marble stone background which made from origami hand made on light blue colour japanese special material and wood stick for bay or kids playing.
ppengcreative / Getty Images
Project Overview
  • Skill Level: Kid-friendly

Paper pinwheels are versatile crafts that are easy for children to make with little supervision and lovely enough to add whimsy to events featuring DIY decor. And they are simple enough that you can make them with any type of paper you have available.

Paper pinwheels are great for budding scientists to test and explore the power of breath and air (the stronger your breath, the faster it spins). As a parent or educator, you can use pinwheels to provide STEM support while you talk to kids about wind turbines, windmills, and renewable energy.​​

If you are looking for fun decor, pinwheels are also an excellent DIY project for baby showers, brunch buffets, and weddings.

Here's how to make a fun and whimsical paper pinwheel.

What You'll Need

Equipment / Tools

  • Scissors
  • Pencil
  • Ruler (optional)

Materials

  • 1 piece Square-shaped paper
  • 1 Straw
  • 1 Pushpin
  • Masking tape

Instructions

  1. Draw Lines

    Using a ruler, mark the center of your square paper with a pencil. If you don't have a ruler, eyeball the center point. Next use your ruler to draw a diagonal line from each corner of the paper, halfway to the center dot you just made.

    Tip

    If you're using printed paper where one side is white and the other has a pattern, make sure you draw the lines on the white side.

    Marking out the cuts to make a paper pinwheel
    Nady Delarosa Photography

  2. Cut Down the Lines

    Use the scissors to cut down the diagonal lines you just marked on your paper.

    Cutting paper to make a pinwheel
    Nady Delarosa Photography

  3. Fold and Pin

    Fold every other point into the center dot and put a pushpin through the paper. This step can be tricky because the points are likely to escape if you're not holding them tight, so patience is key.

    Pinning paper corners in the center
    Nady Delarosa Photography

  4. Attach to Straw

    Tightly hold the pushpin with gathered points in one hand and use your other hand to push the remaining part of the pin through a straw. We used paper craft straws for these pinwheels, but you could also attach your pinwheel to a plastic straw or a pencil. Once your pushpin is pushed through the straw, use a little bit of masking tape to cover the end of the pink so no little fingers get stuck by it.

    Examples of finished pinwheels
    Nady Delarosa Photography