Skydiving Cost: Prices, Fees & Ways to Save

Skydiving has two very different price points. A tandem jump, where you are harnessed to an instructor, is a one-time experience that most dropzones price as a single package. Learning to skydive on your own, which means earning a license, is a multi-jump course that costs far more but ends with the right to jump without an instructor.

This guide covers both paths, plus the extras that change the final bill, such as camera packages and United States Parachute Association membership. Prices vary by dropzone, altitude, and region, so use the figures as planning ranges and confirm the total with the dropzone before you book.

A first tandem jump typically costs $200 – $350. Dropzones set their own prices, and several factors push a jump toward the lower or higher end:

• Altitude: jumps from a higher altitude give a longer freefall and often cost more.
• Location: dropzones near large cities or popular tourist areas tend to charge more than rural ones.
• Day of the week: some dropzones price weekend slots differently from weekdays.
• Group bookings: dropzones may handle groups under separate terms, so ask when you book.

Check what is included in the quoted price. Some dropzones list a base jump price and charge separately for other items, including the camera.

Many first-timers want a record of the jump. A camera package, with a photographer or an instructor-mounted camera, adds $80 – $150 to the tandem price. Because the add-on can be a large share of the total, decide ahead of time whether you want it, and ask how the footage is delivered and whether the price covers both photos and video.

Moving from a single tandem to jumping on your own costs much more. The most common route in the United States is Accelerated Freefall, known as AFF, in which you jump with instructors beside you and then solo. Training is usually completed through the A-license, and the total depends on how quickly you progress.

The AFF course through the A-license costs $1,800 – $3,000. That range is for the course only. If you count the first tandem, gear rental, and jumps needed after the course, the full path from a first tandem to a licensed skydiver costs $2,500 – $4,500.

For a single dropzone's figures, Skydive Monroe lists the AFF first jump course and Category A at $285, and a total of about $2,833 to earn a license. Another dropzone will have a different price list, so compare several before you sign up.

The United States Parachute Association is the national body that sets training standards and issues licenses, and student and licensed skydivers generally need to be members to jump at its affiliated dropzones. Membership is a separate cost from jump tickets and training.

New members pay $98 for an annual membership, and renewals cost $83. A temporary membership for 3 months costs $38, which suits someone trying the sport for a short period. Lifetime membership for US residents costs $2,500. Confirm current fees on the USPA website, since the association sets them.

Beyond the jump itself, a few things can change what you pay:

• Gear rental: student skydivers usually rent equipment, and fees vary by dropzone.
• Repeat jumps: each jump after training is bought separately, and the price per jump differs from the first tandem.
• Own equipment: licensed jumpers who buy their own gear pay for the parachute system, accessories, and packing.
• Travel: a dropzone far from home adds fuel, lodging, or flights.
• Weather: a jump can be postponed. Ask about the reschedule and refund policy before you pay.

Prices are only one part of choosing a dropzone. Ask these questions before you book:

• What is included in the quoted price, and what costs extra?
• Is the dropzone affiliated with USPA?
• What are the weight and age limits for tandem jumps?
• What happens to your payment if the weather cancels the jump?

Calling two or three dropzones usually gives a clearer picture than comparing advertised prices alone.