How to Make a Bottle Opener with Paper

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Follow our step-by-step tutorial to pop off a bottle cap with paper

Co-authored by Elaine Heredia, BA

Last Updated: January 2, 2026 Fact Checked

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How to Open a Bottle with Paper

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Other Bottle-Opening Tricks

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When you don't have a bottle opener handy, or you want to impress your friends with a bar trick, what can you do? According to the latest TikTok trend, all you have to do is fold up a piece of paper! Sounds easy, right? Keep reading to learn how to fold paper into a bottle opener, plus discover other creative ways to crack open a beer or a soda.

How do you fold paper into a bottle opener?

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Fold an 8 in (20 cm) x 10 in (25 cm) piece of paper in half lengthwise.
Fold the paper in half again widthwise.
Keep folding the paper in half-widthwise until it's about 1 in (2.5 cm) wide.
Fold the 1 in (2.5 cm) wide strip of paper in half lengthwise.
Squeeze the folded strip of paper in your fist.
Position the crease under the edge of the bottle cap and lever it upward.

Section 1 of 2:

How to Open a Bottle with Paper

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1
Fold an 8 in (20 cm) x 10 in (25 cm) piece of paper in half lengthwise. The paper doesn't have to be exactly 8 in (20 cm) x 10 in (25 cm), but it should be big enough that you can fold it in half at least 5-6 times into a thick strip of paper about ½–1 in (1.2–2.5 cm) wide.^{[1]
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- You can get away with fewer folds if the paper is thick to begin with. A sticky note would be too small, but a business envelope, a piece of printer paper, or a piece of cardstock should work just fine. You can even do this trick with a $1 bill!
If you're folding up a $1 bill or another piece of paper that's only 2–3 in (5.1–7.6 cm) wide, you may find it easier to roll it up widthwise instead of folding it. Alternatively, you can make small folds, one on top of the other, across the width of the paper, like an accordion.^{[2]
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If you're working with a wide piece of paper, like printer paper, it will take you about 3-4 folds to make it into a strip.^{[3]
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By this point, the paper will be difficult to fold, and the crease will probably be thick. That's okay! You want the crease to be thick and hard, so you can get enough leverage on it to pop open the bottle.^{[4]
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Using your dominant hand, hold the two ends of the folded piece of paper closed in your fist. Make sure the creased end is still out just above your thumb.
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Position the edge of the crease under the bottle cap and lever it open. Grasp the neck of the bottle near the cap with your other hand. Still squeezing the folded paper in your dominant hand, stick one of the pointy edges of the crease under the edge of the bottle cap, next to the inside of your knuckle on your other hand. Then, flick your wrist downward to lever the bottle cap off. Now you can enjoy your beverage!
- This video by @MikeBoyd shows exactly how to perform this fun bar trick!

Section 2 of 2:

Other Creative Ways to Open a Bottle

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Open a bottle with a key, a lighter, a ring, and other off-the-wall tools. Cracking open a cold one with a piece of paper is just the beginning of your journey to mastering this amazing bar trick. Check out our other articles showing creative ways to pry the cap off a bottle of beer or soda, or pop the cork out of a bottle of champagne or wine: