How long does freefall last on a tandem skydive?

From 4,200 metres it lasts around 50-60 seconds, up to about a minute: that is the full value of the experience.

Do you feel the speed while falling?

You feel the wind, but not the "falling": without fixed visual references, a sense of suspension takes over. That is often why even people who fear heights do not feel dizzy in freefall.

How long does the whole jump take, from start to finish?

About 2-3 hours at the airfield in total: 25 minutes of climb, 50-60 seconds of freefall and 5-10 minutes under canopy, plus briefing and preparation.

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Skydiving freefall: how long it lasts and how fast you go

Published on September 19, 2026 · 4 min read

The freefall of a tandem skydive from 4,200 metres lasts around 50-60 seconds, up to about a minute. Speed settles at around 200 km/h, the parachute opens at around 1,500 metres and 5-10 minutes of canopy flight follow. These are the numbers, with no storytelling.

This is the numbers page of the jump: what determines the duration, why speed stops increasing and what happens at each altitude. If you are interested in the starting point instead, the article on what altitude you skydive from explains why altitude changes everything.

For the emotional side there is a phase-by-phase account in another article on the blog.

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Key points

Freefall from 4,200 metres lasts around 50-60 seconds, up to about a minute.
Speed settles at around 200 km/h: it does not keep increasing indefinitely.
The canopy opens at around 1,500 metres, followed by 5-10 minutes under canopy.
The scenic climb takes about 25 minutes.
The full experience takes about 2-3 hours, from briefing to landing.
You do not "feel" the speed the way you do in a vehicle: what prevails is a sense of suspension.

How long does freefall last?

From 4,200 metres freefall lasts around 50-60 seconds, up to about a minute. The variable that matters most is altitude: the higher it is, the more seconds build up before the opening.

Simple rule: the duration in seconds grows with the jump altitude.

Phase	Indicative timing
Scenic climb	about 25 minutes
Freefall	about 50-60 seconds
Parachute opening	at around 1,500 metres
Canopy flight	5-10 minutes
Full experience	about 2-3 hours

The complete sequence, in order: exit at 4,200 metres, speed settling at around 200 km/h, opening at around 1,500 metres, then 5-10 minutes under canopy.

In the first moments speed rises, then it stops: from there the freefall clock runs steadily until the opening. The climb and the canopy flight sit outside that count, at their own pace.

How fast do you go in freefall?

In freefall you reach about 200 km/h. It is not a choice but a balance: gravity accelerates you downwards, while the air resists more and more as speed increases.

At a certain point the two forces balance out and the speed stabilises.

For a body in the arch position, that equilibrium speed is around 200 km/h. Change your body position and the speed changes too: it is the principle behind all body control in freefall, as taught on the AFF skydiving course.

What does 200 km/h feel like?

Speed is not perceived the way it is in a vehicle. There is no cabin around you, no fixed reference points nearby, and the speed is constant: no sudden acceleration, none of the roller-coaster drop in your stomach.

What you feel is the wind, strong and continuous, and a sense of suspension. Many describe it as floating at high speed.

The full account is in the article on what it feels like during a skydive.

What happens next: opening and canopy flight

At around 1,500 metres your instructor opens the parachute. From that moment the speed drops quickly and 5-10 minutes of canopy flight begin: a slow glide, the view, a few turns.

Freefall is the short, intense part; the canopy flight is the long, calm one. Together they make up the complete experience.

How long does the whole jump take?

The full experience takes about 2-3 hours at the airfield. Welcome, briefing, preparation, roughly 25 minutes of climb, freefall, canopy flight and landing.

The airborne part is concentrated into little more than half an hour. The rest is the day at the dropzone, which for many people is part of the experience. Other practical questions are answered in the FAQ.

Want to count the seconds yourself? Book your tandem skydive: altitude and your instructor take care of the rest.

Frequently asked questions

How long does freefall last on a tandem skydive?: From 4,200 metres it lasts around 50-60 seconds, up to about a minute: that is the full value of the experience.
How fast do you go in freefall?: Around 200 km/h, the speed at which air resistance balances acceleration. It is a constant, stable speed, not a continuous acceleration.
Do you feel the speed while falling?: You feel the wind, but not the "falling": without fixed visual references, a sense of suspension takes over. That is often why even people who fear heights do not feel dizzy in freefall.
How long does the whole jump take, from start to finish?: About 2-3 hours at the airfield in total: 25 minutes of climb, 50-60 seconds of freefall and 5-10 minutes under canopy, plus briefing and preparation.