Skydiving Weight Limits: Your Questions, Answered

Key Takeaways 
The tandem skydiving weight limit across the industry is generally between 220 lbs and 250 lbs (100 kg and 113 kg). At Skydive Carolina, our tandem skydiving weight limit is 225 lbs (102 kg). These restrictions exist for safety reasons related to aircraft and skydiving equipment operations. Height and body proportions also play a role, as every guest must be able to fit properly and securely in a tandem harness. All skydivers are weighed privately at check-in, and anyone who exceeds the weight limit or does not correctly fit the equipment will not be permitted to jump.

At Skydive Carolina, we are passionate about making skydiving an unforgettable adventure for everyone who wants to experience the freedom of human flight. While we wish it were possible for absolutely everybody, there are safety protocols – including mandatory weight restrictions – that we are required to enforce.

Skydiving weight limits are not intended to be discriminatory or to keep anyone from enjoying the thrill of skydiving. A skydiving weight limit is imposed as a matter of safety – which is, of course, top priority when it comes to jumping out of an airplane a few miles up in the sky! Why does weight pose a safety risk? We’ve got all your answers here!

Why Is There a Weight Limit for Skydiving?

Skydiving weight limits exist for reasons of safety and comfort. While it’s not a rule we enjoy enforcing, we do consistently apply it in order to keep safety as our top priority for you, our staff members, and others on the dropzone. 

Here are the reasons why there is a weight limit in skydiving:

Airplane Safety

Defying gravity isn’t exactly an easy task, which is why everything in aviation has a weight limit, even the plane itself. Exceeding an airplane’s weight limit could prevent the plane from taking off or make it too heavy to land safely. 

Parachute Safety

Just as one pilots any other aircraft, a skydiver pilots a parachute. The same rules for airplanes are true for skydiving: parachutes have their own weight limit. 

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requires parachutes to undergo rigorous testing in order to be approved for civilian use. Parachute manufacturers publish approved limits in the form of a Technical Standard Order (TSO). Exceeding a parachute’s predetermined weight limit can result in painful parachute deployments, snapped parachute lines, and hard landings.

Gear Safety

The tandem harness has its limitations as far as proper fit goes – it must be snug without being too tight and it must not be too loose either. The tandem skydiving harness is adjustable to a certain point. An incorrect fit can result in pain or injury in freefall or parachute flight, or worse yet, slipping out of your harness. Yikes! 

Harness fit is why we stress the importance of being proportionate in height to weight. A person who is 5’ tall and weighs 225 lbs (102 kg) will require different harness adjustments to a person who is 6’ tall and weighs 225 lbs. To make a tandem skydive, your harness must fit properly.

Instructor Safety

It’s just as important for us to take care of our team members as it is our guests. Exceeding the weight limit of a parachute not only compromises its performance but it can also be extremely difficult for instructors to operate and land it safely. Like our guests, instructors are subject to pain, injury or worse when piloting an overloaded parachute; it just isn’t worth it.

The Tandem Skydiving Weight Limit at Skydive Carolina

Weight restrictions vary depending on the skydiving center and the gear they use. The tandem jump weight limit at Skydive Carolina is 225 lbs (102 kg). 

We are firm on our weight requirement and ask all guests to privately stand on a weighing scale at the time of check-in. We know that this may be awkward and that discussing weight can be uncomfortable or triggering, which is why we do our best to be discreet. 

Skydive Carolina strives to maintain a culture of safety and this is best done when the answer is clear and concise to all. Therefore, we will not accept any guests who are over the weight limit (even just a little bit) or who do not correctly fit in the tandem harness. Doing so would compromise our safety standards and those set by the manufacturer of our skydiving equipment. 

So, please be sure to verify that you are within our weight limit and read our FAQs before making a reservation. If you’re not sure if you qualify to jump, get in touch with our team.

How Height Factors Into the Weight Limit

Weight isn’t the only factor we consider when determining whether someone can safely make a tandem skydive. Height and body proportions matter, too. Two people may weigh the same but fit into a tandem harness very differently.

Why? Proper harness fit! This is why we evaluate both height and weight when determining whether a guest can skydive. If you’re unsure whether you’ll qualify, contact our team before booking and we’ll be happy to help.

What Happens at Check-In

All tandem skydivers are weighed privately during check-in as part of our standard safety procedures. Your weight is verified with your clothes and shoes on, since these contribute to the total weight of the jump system. 

These checks help ensure every skydive is conducted within the limits set by our equipment manufacturers and safety standards. It also pairs you with the right tandem instructor. It’s critical that, together, you don’t exceed the weight limit. 

We understand weight can be a sensitive topic, so we handle the process with discretion and respect. No one but the staff member checking you in will read your weight. 

Can You Skydive If You Weigh More Than the Limit?

You cannot skydive if you weigh more than the weight limit set forth by the equipment manufacturer or if the harness does not correctly fit. And you shouldn’t want to – it’s not worth the risk. If you had your heart set on the feeling of flight, perhaps consider indoor skydiving or parasailing instead. 

Should circumstances change, we will always be right here for you when you’re ready to skydive.

Weight Limits for Solo (AFF) Skydiving

Once you’re a licensed skydiver, you have a bit of a leeway in terms of body weight as long as your gear is able to safely support you. Accelerated Freefall (AFF) is the program students complete in order to learn how to skydive completely on their own. 

The weight limit for AFF skydiving can be different from one dropzone to the next. It is typically the same as the tandem skydiving weight limit, but it’s best to verify with the dropzone. At Skydive Carolina, the weight limit for AFF skydiving is the same as tandem skydiving: 225 lbs (102 kg).

Frequently Asked Questions About Skydiving Weight Limits

These are the questions we most frequently hear regarding skydiving and weight. If you have others, please get in touch! We’re here to help.

Can you skydive if you’re 250 lbs? 

Not at Skydive Carolina – our weight limit is 225 lbs (102 kg). Dropzones with different equipment may be able to accommodate higher weights. 

Can you skydive if you’re 275 lbs? 

Typically, no. The highest tandem skydiving weight limit is usually 250 lbs. Some dropzones may be able to accommodate a higher weight – say 260 lbs (118 kg) – but 275 lbs (125 kg) exceeds standard safety protocols. 

Can you skydive if you’re 300 lbs? 

Tandem skydiving parachutes typically max out at 500 lbs (227 kg), which must include the tandem student, tandem instructor, and the equipment itself, which typically weighs around 60 lbs (27 kg).

A tandem student who weighs 300 lbs (136 kg) would theoretically have to be paired with an instructor of no more than 140 lbs (64 kg). Managing parachute flight and landing would be physically challenging for the instructor and likely uncomfortable or even painful for both people under the parachute. 

Am I too fat to go skydiving?

This question is really asking about harness fit. It is critical that the tandem skydiving harness fits correctly. If body proportions make correct fit impossible, you will not be cleared to jump.

Do heavier people fall faster skydiving? 

Most of the time, yes! Heavier skydivers tend to fall faster than lighter skydivers because they have more mass relative to their surface area. This is one of several reasons weight is an important consideration in skydiving – it affects freefall speed, parachute performance, and landing characteristics.

Who is not allowed to skydive? 

For safety reasons, not everyone is eligible to make a skydive. At Skydive Carolina, guests who exceed the 225 lb (102 kg) weight limit, do not properly fit in a tandem harness, are under the influence of drugs or alcohol, are pregnant, or have certain medical conditions may not be permitted to jump. 

Ready to Jump? 

Have questions or have concerns about your eligibility to skydive? Contact the dropzone – we’re happy to answer any of your questions, honestly and respectfully. Blue skies!