How Much Does Skydiving Cost? Pricing Breakdown & What to Expect

People often ask about the price of skydiving, and chances are, if you’ve mentioned your plans to go, someone’s already asked how much it costs! There are several unknowns when jumping out of an airplane for the first time, but budgeting for how much it is to skydive is one of the variables you can predict. So, how much does it cost to skydive? 

While there is a varying price range depending on time of year, region, and even individual dropzone, there’s an industry standard you can count on when it comes time to book your adventure. Let’s break down what goes into the cost of a skydive and take a closer look at skydiving prices specifically in Maine.

Average Cost of Skydiving

“How expensive is skydiving?” is a subjective question because it’s based on income, budget, and personal values. “How much is it to go skydiving?” on the other hand, is simply answered. In general, tandem skydives range from $250 to $350, with options to add on extras like pictures and video. 

At Skydive New England, a typical tandem skydive costs $279. There are plenty of opportunities for discounts, too, which we’ll get into a bit later. 

But what if one time isn’t enough – how expensive is skydiving as a hobby? Lots of people only plan to skydive once and go on to accumulate thousands of jumps. If you anticipate being bitten by the skydiving bug, it’s a good question to contemplate off the bat.

The good news about how much it costs to start skydiving is that the bulk of the investment is front-loaded into getting licensed, and then the fee is nominal. Case in point: a skydiving licence will cost you about $3,700 to $4,000, which includes all of your jumps, your training, gear rental, and professional instruction. Once you’re a licensed skydiver, you’ll pay just $30 to $40 a jump!

Factors That Affect Skydiving Prices

At first glance, skydiving looks like a pretty simple endeavor: hop in a plane, hop out of a plane, have the time of your life. But a lot goes on behind the scenes that impacts skydiving prices. From the employee fueling the airplane to the instructor deploying your parachute, every person, process, piece of equipment, and gallon of fuel has a cost. 

• Airplanes – Besides the original purchase or leasing price of the airplane, these workhorses require a bit of maintenance. Consistent inspections by a certified mechanic and general upkeep cost a pretty penny.
  
• Employees – Every person you see (and the ones you don’t) during your visit to the dropzone is crucial to the success of your jump. The ground team, manifest staff, parachute packers, and instructors all work together to keep things running smoothly, and they deserve to be compensated fairly.
  
• Gear – Just like airplanes, parachutes, altimeters, jumpsuits, and all of the other skydiving gear components require initial and ongoing investment. At Skydive New England, we utilize the most advanced equipment available and have it regularly inspected by FAA-certified riggers.
  
• Fuel – Airplanes can’t fly without fuel, and neither can we. Fluctuating gas prices are probably what impact skydiving costs the most of anything listed here, and it’s what we have the least control over.
  
• Facilities – The sky might be our playground, but we also need somewhere to call home. Renting or buying dropzone facilities, and all of the operational costs that come with it, affect prices, too.

Is Skydiving Worth the Cost?

Is skydiving worth the money? Well, we’re a bit biased … but, unequivocally, yes! Not only is the jump itself the most exhilarating fun you’ll ever have, the experience is life-changing! 

You’ll walk away from your skydive with a new perspective on the world. Everything will seem lighter. You’ll have a newfound confidence that you can handle whatever life throws at you – after all, you jumped out of an airplane! And the euphoria from your jump won’t fade quickly. You’ll walk around on cloud nine long after you land.

You’ll see benefits in your relationships, work, and mental health that you can’t get anywhere else. (Plus, you’ll earn your spot as the coolest person in your friend group, and you can’t put a price on that!)

Are There Ways to Save Money on Skydiving?

Skydiving is one of the areas in life where “You get what you pay for.” If you encounter rock-bottom prices, beware. However, many professional skydiving operations offer legitimate deals and discounts to offset some of the cost. At Skydive New England, we have many opportunities to save some cash and still have a great time! Here are some of the top discounts at Skydive New England:

Are you ready to put your money where your heart is? Book with us today and find out just how worth it skydiving is! Blue skies!