How to Make a Receipt Float: Simple Magic Trick Techniques

Download Article

Magician Randy Charach explains the secret behind this viral trick

Co-authored by Magic Suzy and Hunter Rising

Last Updated: December 10, 2025 Fact Checked

Download Article

Making a Receipt Float

|

Expert Tips for Mastering the Trick

|

Alternate Techniques

|

How It Got Popular

|

Expert Advice for Performing Magic

|

Other Magic Tricks

|

Video

Have you seen videos of people making their receipt levitate in thin air and wondered how it’s done? Even though levitation is a basic magic trick, it’s still great for fooling an audience, and it’s pretty easy to do. Keep reading, and we’ll walk you through the most common way to perform the trick, along with some alternate techniques. We also spoke with professional magicians for advice to make your tricks look more convincing!

The Floating Receipt Trick Explained

Magician Randy Charach says using invisible thread that your audience can’t see is the best way to levitate a receipt. Keep the thread around your wrist and slide it onto your palm. Stretch the thread between your hands and balance the receipt on top of it to make it look like it’s levitating.

Section 1 of 6:

How to Perform the Floating Receipt Trick

Download Article

1
Slide an invisible thread loop onto your wrist. Professional magician Magic Suzy explains that the thread “is extremely thin and invisible to the eyes,” so it makes objects look like they’re levitating in the air.^{[1]
X
Expert Source

Magic Suzy
Professional Magician

Expert Interview} Charach says to simply tie the thread loop around your wrist or between your fingers.^{[2]
X
Expert Source

Randy Charach
Mentalist, Magician, Author, and Actor

Expert Interview}
- Charach explains that invisible thread loop is commonly called magician’s thread. He says the nylon thread is inexpensive and easy to find online or at magic shops.^{[3]
  X
  Expert Source
  
  Randy Charach
  Mentalist, Magician, Author, and Actor
  
  Expert Interview}
- For a quick way to make the trick look more convincing, Charach says to wear short sleeves or roll your sleeves up.^{[4]
  X
  Expert Source
  
  Randy Charach
  Mentalist, Magician, Author, and Actor
  
  Expert Interview}
Meet the wikiHow Experts

Randy Charach is a Magician, Mentalist, Actor, and Author. He has over 30 years of experience and has performed over 5,000 shows for audiences worldwide.

Magic Suzy is a Professional Magician who specializes in performing family-oriented magic shows.

David Martinez is a Professional Magician who has been entertaining the Bay Area with magic performances for over 20 years.
2
Stretch the invisible thread between your hands. When you’re ready to perform the trick, discreetly slide the loop up onto your palm. Charach says to fold or slightly crumple the receipt.^{[5]
X
Expert Source

Randy Charach
Mentalist, Magician, Author, and Actor

Expert Interview} Then, place it in your palm just above the loop. Slide a finger on your other hand under the loop, and pull it tight, so that the invisible string is stretching between both of your hands.^{[6]
X
Research source}
- To make the trick more convincing, Charach recommends that you “borrow the receipt from the spectator.” He says this makes the trick seem 100% impromptu, especially when it’s examined afterward.^{[7]
  X
  Expert Source
  
  Randy Charach
  Mentalist, Magician, Author, and Actor
  
  Expert Interview}
- Wiggle your fingers around while you’re setting up the trick to distract your audience so they’re less likely to see the string.
Advertisement
3
Balance the receipt on top of the invisible thread. Charach says to silently balance the receipt on the taut thread or hook it onto the thread. Then, “Slowly pull your hands apart while wiggling your fingers dramatically.” This makes it look like the receipt is magically floating in the air, he explains.^{[8]
X
Expert Source

Randy Charach
Mentalist, Magician, Author, and Actor

Expert Interview} Move your hands up and down to make the paper rise and fall in the air.^{[9]
X
Research source}
- Be careful not to twist or tilt your hands too far, or the receipt may fall off the thread. If it happens, play it off by saying you didn’t have enough focus to keep the paper floating, then try again.
- Charach says it’s fine to move your hands up, down, and around to “prove” that there’s no trick. Just be careful not to cross the thread!^{[10]
  X
  Expert Source
  
  Randy Charach
  Mentalist, Magician, Author, and Actor
  
  Expert Interview}
- Also watch out for lighting when you do this trick, notes Charach. He says backlighting can expose the thread.^{[11]
  X
  Expert Source
  
  Randy Charach
  Mentalist, Magician, Author, and Actor
  
  Expert Interview}
4
Drop the receipt and slide the thread back onto your wrist. After a few seconds of levitating the receipt, tilt your hands sideways so the receipt falls into your palm. Slide your finger out from under the loop, and pull the thread back onto your wrist to finish the illusion.^{[12]
X
Research source}
- Hand the receipt to someone who watched your trick so they can see it’s just a normal receipt that you magically levitated.
- Charach says it’s important to “let it drop into the spectator's hand or crumple it so no one can grab it and start feeling for thread to expose it.”^{[13]
  X
  Expert Source
  
  Randy Charach
  Mentalist, Magician, Author, and Actor
  
  Expert Interview}

Section 2 of 6:

Expert Tips for Mastering the Floating Receipt Trick

Download Article

1
Keep the lighting and background in mind. Charach advises that you “perform with the light source behind you or slightly to the side,” and “never behind the paper, because backlighting makes the thread visible.” Instead, he says to do the trick in front of something busy or patterned, like a bookshelf, textured wall, or crowd. “A plain white wall is a killer for thread,” Charach warns. Then, get the space as dimly lit as possible since “bright overhead lights do not work to your advantage.”^{[14]
X
Expert Source

Randy Charach
Mentalist, Magician, Author, and Actor

Expert Interview}
- If possible, Charach recommends that you do the trick while surrounded to make it seem extra convincing. He says the best version of the trick uses a loop or wrist anchor that works 360°.^{[15]
  X
  Expert Source
  
  Randy Charach
  Mentalist, Magician, Author, and Actor
  
  Expert Interview}
2
Use very thin invisible thread and coat it with wax. “The thinner the better,” says Charach. He suggests getting “6-denier” thread or “spider thread.” Then, he says to “wax it down a little bit with beeswax or wax,” which “makes it less likely to catch light and more likely to be out of your way, but in control.” Charach also suggests that you tie a piece of magician's wax (or Blu-Tack) at the end instead of creating a knot. He says this allows the paper to rotate well without seams, making it look cleaner.^{[16]
X
Expert Source

Randy Charach
Mentalist, Magician, Author, and Actor

Expert Interview}
- Charach explains that “the thicker [the thread] is, the more it glows when light hits it.”^{[17]
  X
  Expert Source
  
  Randy Charach
  Mentalist, Magician, Author, and Actor
  
  Expert Interview}
- Keep the thread as short as possible, says Charach. “The shorter the distance between your two anchor points (wrist or fingers), the less visible it is.”^{[18]
  X
  Expert Source
  
  Randy Charach
  Mentalist, Magician, Author, and Actor
  
  Expert Interview}
- In particular, Charach says Michael Ammar's version of the invisible thread loops or bands allows you to do the trick with no anchor points and while fully surrounded.^{[19]
  X
  Expert Source
  
  Randy Charach
  Mentalist, Magician, Author, and Actor
  
  Expert Interview}
3
Don’t look at the paper and wave your hands to misdirect the audience. Charach says to “look at the spectator's eyes” because this “forces them to look where you look.” Then, he suggests that you “wave both hands around [and] through the open space so it doesn't look like one hand is ‘holding’ anything.” He also recommends that you rotate your body slowly while the receipt floats. “This is killer since the thread remains invisible from every angle.”^{[20]
X
Expert Source

Randy Charach
Mentalist, Magician, Author, and Actor

Expert Interview}
- Move the receipt around as much as possible. Charach says to make it “rise and fall, spin, [and] even fight against your hand that's gently pushing down (since the tension of the thread sells the argument).”^{[21]
  X
  Expert Source
  
  Randy Charach
  Mentalist, Magician, Author, and Actor
  
  Expert Interview}
- Charach also recommends that you add sound effects while you’re doing the trick. He says humming or blowing gently, as if you’re using “energy,” is an easy way to misdirect the audience.^{[22]
  X
  Expert Source
  
  Randy Charach
  Mentalist, Magician, Author, and Actor
  
  Expert Interview}

Section 3 of 6:

Other Ways to Make a Receipt Float

Download Article

1
Attach the invisible thread to another object. Some invisible thread comes with a retractable reel and has a small dab of adhesive on the end. Discreetly attach the end of the thread to another object in front of you, and extend it out. When you want to perform the trick, set the receipt on the piece of thread and let it balance.^{[23]
X
Research source}
- With this version of the trick, you can wave your hands around the bill more freely so it appears like there are no strings attached.
- Charach notes that invisible thread reel allows the receipt to float and then shoot away and come back to your hands, which makes for a very dramatic effect.^{[24]
  X
  Expert Source
  
  Randy Charach
  Mentalist, Magician, Author, and Actor
  
  Expert Interview}
Hold the receipt horizontally and fold it in half lengthwise. As you’re folding, hide a coin inside the fold near one end of the receipt. Pinch both ends of the receipt with your thumbs and index fingers. Let go of the end without the coin and slowly lift your index finger off the coin.^{[25]
X
Research source} The coin will balance on the tip of your thumb and make it look like the other end of the receipt is magically floating.
3
Hold the receipt over a jar and blow into it. In a video by @tammermagic, he explains that all you need is a small jar or cup to make the paper levitate. Charach agrees that this is a good trick. He says to “hold a long piece of receipt paper or a whole receipt over your mouth [and] just above a light jar or cup.” Then, “Blow a stream of air downward into the cup or along the paper.”^{[26]
X
Expert Source

Randy Charach
Mentalist, Magician, Author, and Actor

Expert Interview} Let go of the receipt as you’re blowing air, and the receipt will stay floating above the jar.
- When you blow into the jar, the air has no place to go except back out from the top, so it will push the receipt up so it floats.
- Charach explains that “instead of flying away, the fast-moving air creates lower pressure on top of the paper,” while “higher atmospheric pressure at the bottom pushes it up, making it hover and sway in mid-air.”^{[27]
  X
  Expert Source
  
  Randy Charach
  Mentalist, Magician, Author, and Actor
  
  Expert Interview}
- Try this out a few times before performing it in front of other people because it can be a little tricky blowing directly into the jar.
- Alternatively, Charach says you can use a hair dryer on the Cold or Low setting, blowing it upward under light or long pieces of receipt paper.^{[28]
  X
  Expert Source
  
  Randy Charach
  Mentalist, Magician, Author, and Actor
  
  Expert Interview}
4
Hold the receipt over a balloon with static electricity. Charach explains that receipt paper is so light and thin that it’s possible to use a static electric charge to get it to float. This method is more science than magic trick, as the electrostatic attraction (or repulsion) force is what suspends it. To get this to work, Charach says to:^{[29]
X
Expert Source

Randy Charach
Mentalist, Magician, Author, and Actor

Expert Interview}
- Rub a balloon against your head or a wool sweater for 20-30 seconds until it has a negative static charge. Alternatively, use a plastic comb or PVC pipe if you don’t have a balloon.^{[30]
  X
  Expert Source
  
  Randy Charach
  Mentalist, Magician, Author, and Actor
  
  Expert Interview}
- Crumple the receipt lightly into a loose ball or strip.^{[31]
  X
  Expert Source
  
  Randy Charach
  Mentalist, Magician, Author, and Actor
  
  Expert Interview}
- Hold the balloon (or comb or PVC pipe) 1-2 inches (2.5-5 cm) above the receipt on a non-conductive surface. The receipt will “jump” up and stick to the charged object.^{[32]
  X
  Expert Source
  
  Randy Charach
  Mentalist, Magician, Author, and Actor
  
  Expert Interview}
- To make the receipt hover longer, Charach says to hold the balloon (or other object) from underneath. This creates a repulsion effect, making the receipt rise and float for a short time.^{[33]
  X
  Expert Source
  
  Randy Charach
  Mentalist, Magician, Author, and Actor
  
  Expert Interview}
- Charach notes that this method works best in dry weather, as the less humidity there is, the more static there is.^{[34]
  X
  Expert Source
  
  Randy Charach
  Mentalist, Magician, Author, and Actor
  
  Expert Interview}

Section 4 of 6:

How did the floating receipt trick get popular?

Download Article

The video of a man performing the trick went viral on TikTok. Even though levitating an object is a classic magic trick, a video by @naima4f shows a man in a convenience store making a receipt float and move toward him without even touching it. The user posting the clip questioned how it was done, and everyone in the comments has been trying to figure it out, too.
- The man in the video is using an invisible string that’s attached to a shopping cart on one end while he holds the other end in his hand. To perform the trick, he sets the receipt on the string. When he crouches down, the string is at an angle, so the receipt moves towards him.

Section 5 of 6:

How to Perform a Convincing Magic Trick

Download Article

Magic Suzy says, “Dexterity is very important,” and “constantly strengthening the muscles around the fingers” will make your movements look more natural. Try to set aside 30 minutes each day to run through the trick over and over again, until it becomes muscle memory.^{[35]
X
Expert Source

Magic Suzy
Professional Magician

Expert Interview}
Professional magician David Martinez notes, “You need to create a moment of distraction” when you’re performing sleight of hand. If your audience is staring at your hands, he recommends looking into their eyes and asking them a question. They’ll normally make eye contact, so you can do a hidden sleight of hand move, like moving an invisible thread or hiding a coin.^{[36]
X
Expert Source

David Martinez
Professional Magician

Expert Interview}
3
Focus on creating a memorable experience. Martinez says making an experience for the audience keeps them engaged. He suggests “making it funny, making it meaningful, telling a story about yourself, or talking about a universal experience” to help them stay connected.^{[37]
X
Expert Source

David Martinez
Professional Magician

Expert Interview}
- Other things he recommends include involving your audience with the trick or asking them to write their name on something you’re using during the trick.
If you want to keep performing and improve your skills, Martinez notes that a lot of magicians take on students. He says to make friends, meet new people in the community, and ask to share ideas about magic. Some magicians may offer paid mentorships, but others are happy to chat and help you work through your tricks.^{[38]
X
Expert Source

David Martinez
Professional Magician

Expert Interview}

Section 6 of 6:

More Simple Magic Tricks

Download Article

Add these magic tricks to your repertoire for a more exciting routine. If you want to have a variety of tricks to impress people, there are lots of easy sleight of hand illusions that are easy to learn. Check out these tricks and dedicate a little time to practicing them so they look convincing.