Skydiving Weight Limit: 90 kg (14 st 2 lb) for a Tandem

The weight limit for a tandem skydive is usually somewhere between 90 and 115 kg depending on the centre, clothes included. At PACMA in Beni Mellal, Morocco, you can do a tandem jump up to 90 kg dressed (about 14 st 2 lb, or 198 lb), with no surcharge and no experience needed. This clear rule comes from the equipment, the quality of the landing and the instructor's own weight: it gives every passenger a comfortable jump and a soft touchdown. Here is why the limit exists, how it works around the world, what happens at the weigh-in and what your options are if you are just over it.

The short answer. At PACMA you can do a tandem skydive up to 90 kg (14 st 2 lb) dressed and in shoes, at the same price for everyone and with no experience needed. There is a quick, discreet weigh-in at reception on the day. Elsewhere, centres set limits from 90 to 115 kg, sometimes with a surcharge or a BMI check above 95 kg (15 stone).

Want a personal answer in a minute? Our “Can I skydive?” tool checks your dressed weight (in kg, stones or pounds), your age and six health questions based on the FFP form, without storing anything.

What is the weight limit for skydiving?

There is no universal limit: each centre sets its own, based on its equipment and instructors. In Europe most sit between 90 and 100 kg (14 st 2 lb to 15 st 10 lb) dressed; some US centres accept up to 113 or 115 kg (about 250 lb). At PACMA the rule is simple and transparent: up to 90 kg dressed, you jump tandem at the normal price, checked by a weigh-in on the day. You know exactly where you stand before you even book.

British Skydiving, the UK federation, puts it well: weight is not a formal federation restriction, but most centres apply their own guidelines, typically a maximum of 15 to 16 stone (95 to 100 kg) (British Skydiving). The club's conditions, weight, age and medical certificate, are all on our tandem skydive page.

Why is there a weight limit for skydiving?

Because a parachute is a wing certified for a maximum load, and on a tandem that load is the passenger, the instructor and around 20 kg of equipment. The heavier the pair, the faster the canopy descends, the more demanding the flare and the less margin the instructor has on landing. Within the limit, though, your instructor has all the margin they need: that is the promise of a beautifully soft landing.

1. The canopy's maximum load

Every canopy is certified by its manufacturer for a maximum suspended weight: the combined weight of the passenger, the instructor and all the equipment. For example, the data sheet for a very common tandem canopy, UPT's Sigma II 370, gives a maximum suspended weight of 500 lb, or about 227 kg (Sigma II 370 data sheet).

Let's do the maths. A tandem rig plus both jumpers' kit weighs around 20 kg. With an 80 kg instructor and a 90 kg passenger, you reach roughly 190 kg: a comfortable margin. With a 90 kg instructor and a 120 kg passenger, you pass 230 kg, beyond the manufacturer's limit. Within the limit, the margin stays comfortable. The passenger limit also depends on the instructor's weight, which is why some centres quote a figure and add "depending on the instructor available".

2. Wing loading and landing

Wing loading is the ratio between the suspended weight and the canopy's surface area. The higher it is, the faster the canopy flies and descends, and the more precise the flare has to be, that final braking just before touchdown. A heavy tandem reaches the ground faster, with more energy to absorb, and the instructor has less margin if the wind is gusty or uneven.

3. The harness and the aircraft exit

The passenger harness has to fit perfectly: leg, chest and shoulder straps all in the right place. Beyond a certain build, a proper fit becomes difficult, and a badly fitted harness is not safe. The exit and stability in freefall also require the instructor to control the pair's combined mass: the heavier the passenger, the more demanding it is.

In short, the weight limit guarantees you three things: equipment used within its limits, a high-quality landing and an instructor at the top of their game, jump after jump. It is one of the layers of safety at PACMA, just like the AAD fitted to every parachute.

Weight limits around the world, and the PACMA rule

The US Parachute Association (USPA) makes the point itself: each centre sets its own weight, height, age and fitness requirements (USPA FAQ). Here are some published rules, checked in October 2026, so you can see at a glance where the PACMA rule sits.

Two patterns stand out. In Europe and the Middle East, most centres sit between 90 and 100 kg. In the United States, some centres with suitable canopies and instructors accept up to 110 or 115 kg. Where the limit is higher, it often comes with a surcharge, a maximum body mass index (BMI) or an assessment on the day.

Here in Beni Mellal The limit is 90 kg dressed for a tandem skydive, at the same price for everyone: €250 (2,500 MAD for Moroccan residents). It reflects our equipment, our instructors and the landing conditions on the drop zone. Not sure about your weight? Get in touch before booking: we are happy to help, and you arrive with complete peace of mind.

Can you skydive at 100 kg (15 st 10 lb)?

At PACMA, tandems are open up to 90 kg dressed. Elsewhere, 100 kg is sometimes possible: several UK and US centres accept 100 kg dressed, often with a surcharge, a BMI check or a harness fitting on the day. Always check the rule on the centre's official website, and ask whether the figure is with clothes on.

A few kilos over? Good news, the calendar is on your side: the PACMA season runs from 5 December 2026 to 4 April 2027, which leaves several months to set yourself an exciting goal and book a date in the spring.

The weigh-in, clothes and shoes: how it is checked

The weight that counts is your dressed weight, in clothes and shoes, just as you will board the aircraft. Allow 1 to 3 kg more than your bathroom scales say in the morning, depending on your clothes and shoes. In winter, a jacket and walking boots can weigh more.

At PACMA, as at most centres, there is a weigh-in at reception on the day of the jump, during check-in. It is a quick, discreet formality: everyone does it, a bit like checking in a bag at the airport. It guarantees the same fair rule for every passenger.

A few tips so you arrive feeling relaxed:

• Check in advance. If you are close to the limit, weigh yourself dressed a few days before: then you can book with total confidence.
• Wear light, practical clothes, with trainers rather than hiking boots. We provide the jumpsuit, harness, helmet and goggles.
• If you are giving a jump as a gift, discreetly check that the person is within the limit before buying the voucher. Our guide to giving a skydive as a gift has more tips.

On the day, the rule is the same for everyone, without exception: that is exactly what makes this safety guarantee worth having.

Height, build and BMI: what else counts

Weight is not the only criterion, which is rather reassuring: several centres add other simple guidelines to the rule.

• Build and BMI. Two people weighing 90 kg are not the same: one is 1.95 m (6 ft 5 in), the other 1.65 m (5 ft 5 in). That is why some centres, like Skydive Dubai, use BMI as well as weight. PACMA does not apply a BMI threshold: the rule is your dressed weight.
• Height. There is generally no strict maximum height, but a very tall person must be able to fit properly in the harness and sit correctly in front of the instructor. A very large height difference with the instructor can get in the way of the instructor's view.
• Lifting your legs. On landing, the passenger has to lift their legs and hold them out straight for a few seconds. That takes a minimum of flexibility and core strength.
• General mobility. You need to be able to move on your knees inside the aircraft and sit at the edge of the door.

Age has its own rules, covered in our article on skydiving age limits and seniors. Medical questions, from your spine to your heart, are covered in our guide to skydiving medical requirements.

Minimum weight, and weight for a solo AFF jump

Is there a minimum weight?

Yes, at many centres. The passenger must be big and heavy enough for the harness to fit perfectly with no risk of slipping. In the UK, Skydiving UK, for example, gives a minimum of 44 kg (6 st 13 lb) and a minimum height of about 1.50 m (4 ft 11 in), with a harness assessment below that. For children and teenagers, age and build go together: the club's current rules are on our tandem skydive page.

What about a first solo jump?

On an AFF first jump, you jump under your own parachute, a large student canopy. The logic is the same: each canopy has a recommended load, and the school picks equipment to suit your weight. The limits may therefore differ from tandem. An FFP-approved medical of less than three months, required for AFF (PAC), is another condition to plan for. If your weight is close to a limit, contact us before booking and we will check the available equipment with you.

Over the limit: what are your options?

Being over the weight limit does not shut you out of the thrills. Here are your options, in all honesty.

1. You are a few kilos over. This is the most common situation, and the most motivating. Set yourself a goal for the season: our tandem jumps run from the first weekend of December to the first weekend of April, which gives you time to prepare. A gift voucher, valid for the season, makes a fantastic source of motivation.
2. Choose a centre with a higher limit. Some centres, especially in the United States, accept up to 110 or 115 kg, sometimes with a surcharge. Always check the rule on the centre's official website, and ask whether the figure is dressed.
3. Try indoor skydiving. A wind tunnel gives you a taste of freefall in a vertical tunnel. Tunnels have weight conditions too, but they are often more flexible. Our comparison of indoor skydiving and a real skydive explains the differences.
4. Choose another way to fly. A hot-air balloon or a paraglider is another way to see Morocco from above. These activities have their own limits, to be checked with the operators.

Within the limit? Then nothing is holding you back: book your tandem skydive online in a few minutes. Exit at about 4,000 m, around 50 seconds of freefall facing the Atlas, and free rebooking if the weather does not cooperate. To picture your day, read what happens on a tandem skydive.