Money isn't just for spending. Honestly, sometimes it’s for folding into tiny, intricate shapes that make people do a double-take at the dinner table. If you've ever sat in a restaurant and tried to turn a single, crisp Benjamin into a ring or a shirt, you know the stakes feel a bit different when there’s a "100" printed in the corner. It’s stressful. One wrong crease and you’re staring at a crumpled piece of legal tender that looks like it went through a blender.
100 dollar bill origami is the high-stakes version of the paper-folding world. Most people start with the classic crane using a piece of $1 or maybe a $5 bill if they’re feeling fancy. But moving up to the C-note? That requires a level of confidence—and finger dexterity—that most hobbyists take years to develop. The cotton-linen blend of U.S. currency is remarkably resilient, but it has a memory. Every fold you make is basically permanent.
The weird physics of folding Benjamins
Why does it feel so different?
It’s the paper. Or rather, the fact that it isn’t really paper. Federal Reserve notes are 75% cotton and 25% linen. This specific blend, which companies like Crane Aerospace & Electronics (a subsidiary of Crane Co., the long-time supplier of US currency paper) have perfected, means the fibers are incredibly tough. If you fold a piece of standard 20lb bond printer paper, the fibers break. If you fold a $100 bill, the fibers compress.
The $100 bill has specific security features that make it a nightmare for complex origami. The 3D Security Ribbon—that blue strip woven into the paper—creates a localized thickness. When you’re doing something like a Won Park koi fish, which involves dozens of overlapping layers, that extra millimeter of blue plastic ribbon can throw off your entire alignment. Won Park, arguably the world’s most famous "money folder," often talks about the "feel" of the bill. You can't just follow a diagram; you have to negotiate with the paper.
The legal elephant in the room
Let’s get this out of the way. You aren't going to jail.
✨ Don't miss: Exactly What Month is Ramadan 2025 and Why the Dates Shift
A lot of people think folding money is "defacing currency," which is a federal offense under 18 U.S.C. § 333. However, the law specifically targets people who render the money "unfit to be reissued" with the intent to defraud. As long as you aren't cutting the bill, taping it together to make it look like a higher denomination, or bleaching it, you’re fine. You can unfold a 100 dollar bill origami swan and spend it at Starbucks. It might be a bit crinkly, but it’s still legal tender. Just don't use scissors.
The psychology of the "Big Bill" tip
There is a specific social dynamic to leaving a $100 bill folded into a shape. It’s the ultimate "stealth wealth" flex. Imagine a server clearing a table and finding a tiny, perfectly rendered butterfly. They pick it up, realize it’s heavy, and then see the face of Benjamin Franklin staring back at them through the folds. It’s a moment of genuine theater.
But here is the catch. If the fold is too tight, the server might accidentally tear the bill trying to get it flat for the bank’s deposit machine. If you’re going to leave a $100 bill as origami, stick to "soft" folds. Avoid the hyper-complex modular designs that require 40 hard creases. A simple "Money Ring" or the "Classic Shirt and Tie" is usually safe.
- The Ring: Great for showing off the "100" numeral as the "gem."
- The Heart: A bit cliché, but on a $100 bill, it says "I really, really like this service."
- The Box: Functional, but uses too many creases that might make a vending machine reject it later.
Mastering the "100 Dollar Bill Origami" Ring
If you’re going to try this, start with a crisp bill. An old, limp bill is like trying to fold a wet napkin. It won't hold the shape, and the final product will look sad.
First, lay the bill flat. You want the "100" in the top right corner to be your focus. Fold the top edge down about a third of the way. Then fold the bottom edge up so it meets the top. You now have a long, thin strip.
🔗 Read more: Dutch Bros Menu Food: What Most People Get Wrong About the Snacks
Now comes the tricky part. You have to create the "setting" for the ring. Fold the right side down at a 90-degree angle, exactly where the "100" is. Wrap the remaining length of the bill around your finger to size it, then tuck the excess through the center of the "setting." It takes practice. You will probably fail four times before it looks like something a person would actually wear.
Why some folders avoid the new $100 design
The "Series 2009" redesign of the $100 bill changed the game for origami artists. The addition of the large, gold "100" and the copper-to-green color-shifting bell in the inkwell added a lot of "visual noise." For some, this is great. It adds texture. For purists, it’s distracting.
Master folder Michael LaFosse, who co-founded the Origamido Studio, emphasizes the importance of using the graphics of the bill to enhance the fold. In his work, he tries to align the eyes of the portrait with the "head" of the animal he’s folding. On the new $100, Franklin’s portrait is larger and off-center compared to the older "small head" bills from the early 90s. This means your old diagrams from 1995 won't work perfectly anymore. You have to recalibrate.
The actual value of the art
Is it worth it?
Technically, a $100 bill is worth $100. But a 100 dollar bill origami piece sold as art can sometimes fetch more. Collectors of "Money Art" look for pieces folded by recognized masters. Because the medium is so restrictive—you cannot cut, glue, or color the paper—the skill required to produce a recognizable figure is immense.
💡 You might also like: Draft House Las Vegas: Why Locals Still Flock to This Old School Sports Bar
It’s a lesson in constraints. In a world where you can 3D print anything, being limited to a 2.61 by 6.14-inch rectangle of cotton-linen is refreshing. It’s a puzzle.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Don't use a bone folder—that little plastic tool used by bookbinders—too aggressively on a $100 bill. The ink on US currency is "intaglio" printed, meaning it sits on top of the paper in ridges. If you burnish the folds too hard, you’ll actually rub the ink off, leaving white streaks. It ruins the aesthetic and makes the bill look fake.
Also, watch out for the "fold fatigue." Even though the paper is strong, if you fold and unfold the same spot more than 10 times, the linen fibers will start to fray. At that point, your $100 bill is basically on life support.
Actionable Steps for your first $100 Fold
If you're ready to move past the "crane" stage and into the big leagues, don't just wing it.
- Get a crisp bill. Go to the bank and specifically ask for a "New, uncirculated Series 2013 or newer $100." Tell them it's for a gift. They usually have a stash of "bricks" (stacks of new bills) in the vault.
- Wash your hands. Sounds stupid, right? It's not. The oils from your skin react with the ink and the cotton. A clean bill stays "bright" longer.
- Practice on a "prop" bill first. You can buy motion picture money or "training bills" that have the exact dimensions of a US $100. Practice the fold 20 times on the fake stuff.
- Mind the ribbon. When you make your final move on the real bill, be aware of where that blue 3D ribbon is. If a fold needs to be precise, try to keep it away from the ribbon's edge.
- Display it properly. If you’re giving it as a gift, put it in a small acrylic case. Don't let someone just shove your five-hour masterpiece into their wallet.
Fold slowly. The 100 dollar bill origami process is more about the journey and the tension of handling that much value than it is about the final shape. If you mess up, you still have 100 bucks. If you succeed, you have a story.
Most people never even try because they’re afraid of "ruining" the money. But the money is already there. It’s just waiting for you to give it a better shape. Go grab a bill, find a flat surface, and start with the simple ring. It’s the easiest way to see if you have the patience for the high-stakes world of currency folding.