Skydiving, although fun, is a very serious sport and the rules and regulations set must be followed. If you are interested in skydiving you may have a few questions about weight and if your weight matters for skydiving. So, is there a weight limit for skydiving?
Yes, skydiving has weight limits based on the guidelines of equipment manufacturers. For tandem skydiving, the passenger weight limit ranges anywhere from 225 lbs to 270 lbs. While solo skydiving the weight limit is 225 lbs to 250 lbs. It is rare that exceptions will be made.
Always call ahead before scheduling at any skydiving facility/drop zone, as the weight limits may differ slightly based on location. I understand having weight restrictions for skydiving can be upsetting, especially if it’s someone’s dream to jump. In this article, I’ve explained the reasoning for the weight restrictions and a possible way around them.
Is There a Weight Limit for Tandem Skydiving?
For a Tandem skydive, the total combined weight should be 500 pounds or under. This limit includes the 60-pound tandem rig and both the student/passenger and instructor. The weight limits are recommended by the equipment manufacturer and going beyond them increases your risk.
For a tandem skydiving passenger, the weight limits range from 225 lbs and 270 lbs. This limit will be set by the skydiving facility. Also, keep in mind body shape can prohibit you from skydiving as the harness must fit appropriately.
Does Weight Affect the Comfort of The Skydiving Gear?
Deployment is can be uncomfortable if your rig is at the top of the weight limit. When you’re skydiving, you fall at 120 miles per hour plus. When the parachute is deployed, you will hit around 14 miles per hour in about 3-5 seconds.
When the deceleration happens upon parachute deployment, the harness pulls up on all the areas hugging your body. If you’re over the weight limit, this may be painful. Also, the better the gear fits the comfier the opening is.
Does Weight Affect the Condition of The Skydiving Gear?
With every jump, the skydiving equipment is affected by the weight hanging under the parachute. So, of course, a heavier pair can expect to cause slight wear and tear on the equipment.
Weight can also directly affect the navigation. If you are too heavy to skydive, this will make it more challenging to guide the parachute, and it also takes a toll on the body of your instructor.
Keep in mind being too light can make navigation more difficult. Sometimes lightweight skydivers add weight for better control for the gear they are wearing.
Is There a Weight Limit for Solo Skydiving?
With a solo dive, the skydiver weight limits are 225 lbs to 250 lbs. However, these are weight limits set by companies who provide train the USA is based on the reserve parachute.
A reserve parachute must be approved and is granted to the manufacturers in TSO’s, which means Technical Standard Orders. Learn more on the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) website about TSO’s here. In simple terms, the parachute must be approved and it will get a certification for a person to use.
A TSO C-23 certification is issued to parachutes that act in accordance with up to date performance standards, as stated by the USPA SIM here.
Some TSO C-23 parachutes and harnesses are certified for 254 pounds, others are certified for more weight and more knots.
If your weight is too high to jump with the standard equipment, you can ask about the modified gear, it may or may not be an option for you in you location.
I think it is important to note that there are people solo skydiving above the weight limits. These people talk about skydiving in online forums and groups. They say themselves that they are aware of the gear recommendations and certifications, for them skydiving at a higher weight they know the risks involved.
Is There a Minimum Weight Requirement for Tandem Skydiving?
There is technically no minimum weight requirement for tandem skydiving. However, the person in question should be able to fit into the gear snuggly. Some skydiving facilities will list minimum weight limits, if they do they are often around 90lbs.
If their body is too small, and the skydiving facility cannot tighten the harness enough to fit correctly, they may refuse to allow the person to proceed due to safety concerns.
In various locations there are age limits, typically under 18 you are not allowed to tandem skydive. Some locations allow for a parent to sign a waiver to allow them to go.
Is There a Minimum Weight Requirement for Solo Skydiving?
There is no minimum requirement for solo skydiving. However, being lighter and smaller often requires different sized gear and contacting your local drop zone is a good idea.
Sometimes lighter people skydiving wear weight belts to help them during the free fall, as lighter people fall much slower and have a hard time flying together with heavier people.
Is There a Height Limit for Skydiving?
While there’s not a height limit per se, there are sometimes weight limits for each height. Below, I’ve put a little table for you. However, keep in mind, again, this is a rough estimate as some facilities may be higher or lower.
| Height (ft & in) | Weight (lbs.) |
| 4’10” or under | 130 |
| 4’11” | 140 |
| 5’0” | 150 |
| 5’1” | 160 |
| 5’2” | 165 |
| 5’3” | 170 |
| 5’4” | 175 |
| 5’5” | 190 |
| 5’6” | 200 |
| 5’7” | 220 |
| 5’8” | 230 |
| 5’9” or higher1 | 240 |
Some facilities have a weight restriction for each height since sometimes a higher weight for a particular height can cause someone to become disproportionate to the point of not being able to secure the individual safely in gear.
Is There a Height Requirement for Skydiving?
There is no height requirement if the individual can safely fit into the skydiving gear. Fitting in the skydiving equipment securely is all that matters, if you are wondering if you are too small to fit in gear call your local drop zone and see if they have the gear for you.
Do You Have to Be Fit to Skydive?
For both tandem and solo jumps, individuals should be physically fit. This means they should be mentally alert, have a strong core, be flexible, and be reasonably healthy. Being in physical shape makes skydiving a safer experience.
If someone is suffering from high blood pressure or a heart problem, they should not jump without first checking with their doctor. It doesn’t hurt to ask your doctor if you are in doubt!
How the Parachute Harness Fits is Important
The fit of the harness is critical when it comes to skydiving as this contraption is what you will be suspended by under the parachute. If the harness does not fit properly, the jumper can be ejected out of the harness and fall.
Having too much of a gap in your harness will make parachute deployment extremely uncomfortable. And if your rig is not tightened correctly around your thigh, it will not stay on your torso. This could end in the inability to reach your deployment handle or someone falling out.
Is There a Weight Limit for Indoor Skydiving?
There are weight limits for indoor skydiving, and the maximum weight will differ depending on the venue. For example, some indoor skydiving facilities allow a maximum weight of 250 lbs, while others allow up to 270 lbs.
Is There a Minimum Weight Requirement for Indoor Skydiving?
For indoor skydiving, the minimum weight is 40 lbs. This is to lessen the risk of injury, as the instructor may have difficulty controlling the movement of anyone under this weight.
Is There an Age Requirement for Skydiving?
According to United States law, anyone who skydives must be at least 18 years old. Since this is federal law, it doesn’t matter if a minor jumps with a licensed professional and has parental consent; it’s illegal.
However, an excellent option for any minors that want to get the skydiving experience is to go to an indoor skydiving venue. If they weigh over 40 pounds and under 250, they can experience the free fall in the wind tunnel.
Other countries set different rules and age requirements may not exist. The most important factor is gear that fits. Some locations do require parent consent and for the parent to be physically present.
Why Are Weight Restrictions Important for Skydiving?
I know that weight restrictions can be frustrating, especially if you’re someone who has skydiving on their bucket list. But the weight restrictions are for a good reason. Below, we share a few reasons why weight restrictions are so important when it comes to skydiving:
A Skydiving Harness Has to Fit Properly
The harness is what is going to keep you safe as you’re flying. Not to sound cruel, but a harness has limits regarding the extension. If the individual weighs more than the maximum limit, there is a fair chance the harness won’t fit.
All Parachute Rigs Have a Certified Weight Limit
The Federal Aviation Administration carefully tests the parachutes and harnesses used for skydiving. Once the testing is done, the equipment is given a TSO (Technical Standard Order). In this order, there is also a maximum amount of weight that the gear can safely handle, after that you put yourself at risk.
The gear load limits can be found in one of these options:
- owner’s manual
- on the manufacturer’s website
- on the parachute itself
Landing Requires a Fair Amount of Core Strength That Not Everyone Has
Upon landing, a tandem student must hold their legs at a 90-degree angle for about 10 to 15 seconds. While that doesn’t sound long, it feels like forever when you’re in the moment. If you let your legs down too quickly, you could sprain or even break your ankle or foot.
Holding these positions allows the instructor and student to slide into the landing. Not all people over the weight limit have poor core strength, but this tends to be true often concerning individuals who are not height-weight proportionate.
Skydiving Weight Related Questions
Do You Fall Faster if You Weigh More?
The heavier you are, the faster you fall during skydiving, increasing your terminal velocity. Likewise, the pushback on your drag force will also be much more intense.
Do Tandem Skydivers Fall Faster than Solo Skydivers?
Since a tandem skydiving team tends to be much heavier than a solo diver, they free fall much more quickly than one person. Sometimes tandem divers can fall dangerously fast, which is why some teams must use a drogue before opening the parachute.
Will Skydiving Companies Weigh Me?
Every student that wants to skydive will be weighed with their clothing, shoes, and gear. This is to ensure that, with equipment and all, you are within the accepted weight range.
Final Thoughts
Weight limits for skydiving can be discouraging; however, they are in place because each parachute rig has a weight certification limit given by the FAA.
If you are a solo jumper, you can ask about a modified tandem gear set to fit your weight if you can wear the harness safely. Weight limits are not set in place to be discriminatory but rather to keep everyone safe.
Not sure about skydiving yet? See 25 Activities Like Skydiving for Adrenaline Junkies for more ideas and sports that might suit your preferences better.
When Heather is not participating in extreme sports you can find her working the events across the country, or writing about these amazing adrenaline rushes. She loves to go skydiving, snowboarding, parasailing, hang gliding, dirt boarding, off-roading and hiking.