How to read this chart
Exit weight. This is your all-in weight: body plus rig, helmet, altimeter, weight belt, and every accessory you jump with. It's the number on the bathroom scale plus your kit. Most skydivers underestimate this by 5–8 kg. When in doubt, add more.
Qualification level. The chart you use depends on whether you've completed a British Skydiving recognised canopy training programme. If you haven't done CT2, CT3, or CT4 (or an equivalent recognised course), you're on the Standard chart. CT2 is the entry point for accessing smaller canopies than the standard limits allow. CT3 and CT4 each unlock progressively tighter minimums.
Experience. The Standard chart uses licence-based columns early on: A, B, B with 100 jumps, C. It switches to jump number bands from 300 jumps onward. CT3 and CT4 are jump-number only, starting at 400 and 1000 respectively.
The 10% variation rule. Form 330 allows a variation of up to 10% smaller than the stated minimum, to account for ancillary kit weight, body weight fluctuation, and differences in manufacturer sizing. This isn't automatic. It requires sign-off from your Chief Instructor.
The 15% downsize rule. When moving down a canopy size, British Skydiving recommends going no more than 15% smaller than your current canopy in a single step. This applies regardless of what the chart permits at your weight and experience level.
Past 2000 jumps. Once you've made 2000 jumps, Form 330 no longer sets your minimum canopy size. You're responsible for selecting your own. The principles that underpin the chart (controlled progression, CI oversight, manufacturer limits) still apply. Talk to your CI before any significant downsize.
Form 332. Where a jumper requires a canopy outside what Form 330 allows, the formal mechanism is Form 332: a written request to the Chief Instructor that must be approved before jumping. Download Form 332 from British Skydiving.
Manufacturer recommendations always take precedence. Even if the Form 330 chart permits a given canopy size for your weight and experience, you cannot jump a canopy outside the manufacturer's certified weight range. The chart is a floor, not a ceiling.
This page is a tool, not a regulation. The official Form 330 charts are downloadable from British Skydiving.
Frequently asked questions
What's the minimum canopy size for an A Licence holder in the UK?
For most exit weights, the Form 330 Standard chart minimum under the A Licence column is 190 sq ft. For example, an 80 kg jumper on an A Licence has a minimum of 190 sq ft. Use the calculator above to find the exact minimum for your exit weight. The A Licence column applies until you hold a B Licence. After 100 jumps with a B Licence, move to the next column.
What canopy size can I jump after AFF?
After AFF you'll hold an A Licence, and the Form 330 Standard chart minimums apply. For most exit weights the minimum under the A Licence column is 190 sq ft, though most dropzones will start you on a larger student canopy of 220 sq ft or more while you build your canopy skills. Check the calculator for your exact weight.
What are CT2, CT3 and CT4?
CT2, CT3 and CT4 are progressive canopy training programmes recognised by British Skydiving. CT2 is the entry point: completing it unlocks access to smaller canopies than the standard chart allows. CT3 and CT4 each unlock progressively tighter wing loadings. Each level requires a minimum jump count and must be completed at a British Skydiving affiliated centre or with a recognised provider.
Why does the CT3 chart start at 400 jumps and CT4 at 1000?
Because that's roughly when you become eligible. British Skydiving's Operations Manual (section 6.2.9) says you can't even start CT3 training until you're a C Licence jumper holding CT2 with at least 300 descents logged, 100 of which must have been within the previous 12 months. By the time CT3 is signed off, you're realistically into 400+ jumps.
CT4 is stricter. Section 6.2.16 requires CT3 plus 200 high-performance landings since CT3 qualification, with 100 of those in the last 12 months and 25 on your specific canopy. Stack the prerequisites together and most jumpers are in the 800 to 1000 jump range before they're eligible. The charts don't start lower because nobody at lower jump numbers can legally hold those qualifications.
Can I jump a smaller canopy than the chart says?
Yes, up to 10% smaller than the stated minimum, using the Form 330 variation allowance. This requires your Chief Instructor's sign-off and applies to account for things like ancillary kit weight and manufacturer sizing differences. Below 10%, you need a formal variation approved through Form 332.
What's the difference between Form 330(i), 330(ii), and 330(iii)?
Form 330(i) is the Standard chart (no canopy course required). Form 330(ii) applies if you've completed CT2 or a recognised equivalent canopy course. Form 330(iii) covers CT3 and CT4. All three set minimum canopy sizes by exit weight and experience. The minimums get progressively smaller as you complete training.
Where does the official Form 330 chart come from?
Form 330 is published by British Skydiving, the UK governing body for the sport, formerly known as the BPA. The official PDFs (Issues 1, April 2021) are available to download from their forms page. This calculator uses that data.
What happens after 2000 jumps?
Past 2000 jumps, Form 330 minimums no longer bind you. You're responsible for your own canopy selection. That doesn't mean anything goes. The wisdom the chart encodes still applies: controlled progression, manufacturer limits, CI sign-off before significant downsizes. Talk to your CI.
Is wing loading the same as canopy size?
No. Canopy size is the surface area of the parachute in square feet. Wing loading is your total exit weight divided by that canopy size, expressed in lbs per square foot. Two jumpers flying the same 150 sq ft canopy can have very different wing loadings if their exit weights differ, which means very different flight characteristics. Use the wing loading calculator to model your numbers.