How to Make a Flying Paper Sky Lantern

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Practicing an ancient Chinese art at home

Co-authored by Luke Smith, MFA Reviewed by Amy Guerrero

Last Updated: March 28, 2023 Fact Checked

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Making the Paper Shell

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Building the Frame

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Preparing the Fuel

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Lighting Your Sky Lantern

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Q&A

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Warnings

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Things You'll Need

Sky lanterns are a gorgeous and long-standing tradition. Originally used by the ancient Chinese military to send signals from far away, sky lanterns are now popular at festivals, weddings, and other celebrations around the world. We’ll show you how to craft a paper shell, make a wire frame, prepare lantern fuel, and finally launch your lantern to add a bit of magic to any evening. Just be sure to practice proper fire safety!

Things You Should Know

Glue wax paper into a cylinder, then glue another sheet to 1 end to form a “cap” on the end.
Glue a wire circle into the end of the wax paper cylinder to make a frame, with 2 perpendicular wires in the center.
Dip a strip of fabric in melted wax, then tie it to the center of the perpendicular wires to use as a fuel source.
Light the wax-dipped fabric with a lighter, and let the lantern go once you feel it pulled upward.

Part 1

Part 1 of 4:

Making the Paper Shell

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1
Cut out 2 pieces of wax paper that are more than 2 ft (0.61 m) long. On a flat surface, roll out a sheet of wax paper. Then, use scissors to cut 2 lengths that are each a little more than 2 ft (0.61 m) long.^{[1]
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- Wax paper is ideal for making sky lanterns because it's lightweight and translucent.
- Alternatively, use kite paper or butter paper.
Align the 2 pieces of paper side by side, so that the long edges overlap by about 0.5 in (13 mm). Then, glue these edges together with a glue stick to make 1 larger sheet of paper.^{[2]
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Grab an edge of the paper perpendicular to the seam you just created, then fold it over to meet the opposite edge. Apply glue to 1 of the edges, and press it onto the other edge, overlapping them by about 0.5 in (13 mm). You now have a large paper cylinder.^{[3]
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4
Cut out a square piece of paper about 7 in (18 cm) on each side. The square piece of paper will be the top of your sky lantern. Make sure each side is about 7 in (18 cm) long, to overlap the edges.^{[4]
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- Alternatively, set the cylinder upright on another piece of wax paper, and trace a square around the circular base, about 1 in (2.5 cm) wider than the base itself.
5
Glue the square over one of the open ends of the paper cylinder. Place the cylinder upright on the square sheet of wax paper. Then, glue each of the edges of the square upward onto the sides of the cylinder.^{[5]
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- After you’ve glued the edges upward, fold the corners flush with the cylinder and glue them down, as well.

Part 2

Part 2 of 4:

Building the Frame

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Lay the cylinder on a flat surface so the open end is completely flat. Then, measure the length of the open end with a tape measure, and double the length to find the circumference. Measure and cut a piece of bare, thin wire that's about 2 inches (5.1 cm) longer than the circumference. Bend the wire into a ring shape, overlapping the ends by 1 inch (2.5 cm), and twist the ends together.^{[6]
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Cut 2 lengths of wire that span the diameter of the circle, and then some. Then, twist 1 end of 1 length to any point on the circle, and wrap the other end on the opposite side. Do the same for the other length, making the 2 cross at the center. These pieces of wire will hold the fuel you’ll use to light and launch your sky lantern.^{[7]
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3
Glue the wire ring inside the open end of the paper shell. Take the paper shell and hold it so the open end is facing up. Then, insert the wire ring inside the paper shell so it’s about ¹⁄₂ inch (1.3 cm) away from the edge of the open end. Working your way around the ring, fold the edges of the paper down over the ring and glue them down to secure the ring in place.^{[8]
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- To more neatly fold the edges, cut a ¹⁄₂ inch (1.3 cm) slit into the edge of the paper every 4 in (10 cm) or so before folding and gluing.
- Once the lantern is assembled, spray it inside and out with a sparing layer of fire-retardant spray to fireproof it.

Part 3

Part 3 of 4:

Preparing the Fuel

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1
Melt unscented candle wax in a pan over the stove top. Place 1 medium-sized, unscented candle in a saucepan on the stove over medium-low heat. Let it melt completely, stirring every couple of minutes. Candle wax will serve as part of the fuel for your sky lantern.^{[9]
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- Leave the melted candle wax on the lit stove top until you’re ready to use it so it doesn’t harden.
- Once melted, fish out the wick with a fork and throw it away; we won’t need it.
Any kind of cloth fabric will work. Use a strip that's around 1 ft (0.30 m) long and 1–2 in (2.5–5.1 cm) wide. Once the cloth is covered with wax (after about 1 minute), use a pair of tongs to lift it out of the pan. Let the cloth strip dry for 2 minutes.^{[10]
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Tie the wax-covered strip of cloth onto the center of the wire frame. Turn your sky lantern upside down so the wire frame is facing up. Then, wrap the cloth strip around the middle of the wire frame and tie several knots. Continue tying knots until the whole strip is bundled up in the center of the frame and the ends are no longer sticking out.^{[11]
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- Alternatively, dip a paper towel square into the wax, then remove it and let it dry. Then, poke a hole through the square and tie it to the center of the wire frame with a bit of string.

Part 4

Part 4 of 4:

Lighting Your Sky Lantern

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1
Light your sky lantern in a safe outdoor location, away from trees. Find a large, open area free of vegetation, like a dirt field, to light your lantern. Sky lanterns are a fire hazard if they’re not lit in a safe place under the right conditions. Never launch your sky lantern indoors, and always check the weather before you light your lantern. If it’s going to be windy or rainy, wait and light it on a different day.^{[12]
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US National Park Service
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- Call your local fire department to check if sky lanterns are legal in your area—they may be outlawed in your state.
- Sky lanterns are illegal in Washington, Louisiana, Maine, and most states where fireworks are also illegal.^{[13]
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- Avoid lighting your lantern beneath trees or powerlines, or next to tall buildings.
2
Hold your sky lantern by the wire and light the wax-covered cloth. Hold the lantern away from you, at arm’s length. Then hold a lighter to the cloth until it catches fire. Keep holding it once it's lit, until you feel it pulled upward.^{[14]
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- The lantern traps the hot air from the fire inside it. Hot air rises, pulling the lantern upward with it.
3
Release your lantern. Once you feel your lantern being pulled upward, it’s ready to launch. Gently let go of your lantern and watch as it soars into the air.^{[15]
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- Give your lantern a gentle upward push to help it climb into the sky.
- Your lantern may eventually burn up, or run out of fuel and fall to the ground. If you can, retrieve it and toss it in the garbage, or hold onto to it to keep the memory!
- Alternatively, tie a bit of fishing line to the wire frame of your lantern to use it like a kite. Be cautious of the lit fuel when reeling it back in.

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Question

Can you let the cloth sit for a long time after you soak it?

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This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

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If you let it sit too long, it'll harden and be a bit more difficult to tie to the lantern. But your can always affix it with some twine or string, instead.

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Can a tea light bear the load of a small lantern?

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This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

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A tea light may do the trick, but it'll likely take longer for the lantern to fill with enough hot air to rise. If you're using a tea light, make your lantern about half as large.

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Why wont my lanterns fly? Are they to heavy?

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They may be too heavy, in which case use lighter-weight paper or wire. Or, there may be a hole at the top of the lantern that allows air to escape. Make sure your seal it tight!

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Warnings

Sky lanterns are prohibited in some cities. Before you light your sky lantern, make sure they’re legal in your area.^{[16]
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US National Park Service
Agency responsible for the maintenance and promotion of national parks and monuments

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