Bungee jumping is great fun, but it does come with risk. This extreme sport is bound by a lot of safety legislation as you would expect, with some of that concerning age limits. I love bungee jumping so decided to see what the different age restrictions are around the world. With that in mind, is there an age limit for bungee jumping and how old do you have to be? Yes, in many countries there are, let’s take a closer look…
How old do you have to be to bungee jump? The age limit on bungee jumping will differ from country to country. In the UK, the age is 14 but in the United States there is no legislation. In most countries, bungee jumpers under 18 will need written parental consent. In Australia you can bungee jump at 10 years old!
Do you have to be 18 to bungee jump?
You do not have to be 18 to bungee jump. However, in most countries you will need to have written parental consent to bungee jump if you are under 18.
If you scroll down the page, you will see a table of countries and places listed which show how old you have to be and any notes on the age limits.
How old do you have to be to do a bungee jump in the UK?
The youngest age you can go bungee jumping in the UK is 14 years old. However, between the ages of 14 and 16, you will need parental consent and be accompanied on the site by a parent or guardian. No under 14s are legally allowed to bungee jump in the UK.
There is no legal upper age limit for bungee jumping in the UK, but some operators will impose their own restrictions.
For example, some bungee jumping companies will only let over 65s jump with written permission from their doctor. Many operators also advise that over 50s seek medical advice before they book a jump.
How old do you have to be to bungee jump in America?
There is no law on how old you have to be to bungee jump in America. However, if you are younger than 18 years then operators will need written permission and parental consent. Many operators will refuse to allow jumpers younger than 14 years old.
In many states, bungee jumping has actually been made illegal. This was in responses to a lot of accidents that occurred in the 1990s. In states where it is legal to bungee jump, many operators will only let you do so in tandem with an experienced jumper.
Handy Hint: I published some research into how many people die each year in bungee jumps. You can see my findings in this guide to bungee jumping fatalities.
| Country (or location) | Lower age limit | Additional notes |
|---|---|---|
| Australia | 10 years old | Jumpers under 18 years will need guardian or parental consent. Maximum weight limit: 100 kg/220 pounds. Participants should not have serious health problems such as cardiac issues or disabilities. |
| Austria | 16 years old | |
| Arizona (USA) | None | Jumpers under 18 years will need guardian or parental consent. Jumpers must weigh between 80 and 240 pounds and be at least 3 feet 6 inches tall to jump. |
| California (USA) | None | Jumpers under 18 years will need guardian or parental consent. |
| Canada | None | Jumpers under 18 years will need guardian or parental consent. |
| Cape Town (South Africa) | 14 years old | |
| China | 13 years old | Jumpers under 18 years will need guardian or parental consent. Jumpers must weigh between 88 and 230 pounds. |
| Costa Rica | 18 years old | Age limit is a recommendation only. |
| Croatia | 10 years old | As long as the jumper fits the harness. |
| Dubai | 14 years old | |
| Egypt | 10 years old | |
| Florida (USA) | None | Jumpers under 18 years will need guardian or parental consent. |
| France | 14 years old | Jumpers under 18 years will need guardian or parental consent. You must present a medical note from your doctor if you are over 55 years old. |
| Goa (India) | 10 years old | |
| Greece | 16 years old | |
| Hawaii (USA) | None | Jumpers under 18 years will need guardian or parental consent. |
| Hong Kong | 10 years old | |
| Idaho (USA) | None | Jumpers under 18 years will need guardian or parental consent. |
| India | None | Many operators will not let under 12s jump. |
| Japan | 15 years old | |
| Kenya | None | |
| Malaysia | 10 years old | |
| Nepal | 12 years old | Jumpers under 18 years will need guardian or parental consent. |
| New Zealand | 10 years old | Children must go as a tandem jump. |
| Oregon (USA) | None | |
| Rishikesh (India) | None | Many operators will not let under 12s jump. |
| Spain | 14 years old | Jumpers between 14 and 16 years will need guardian or parental consent. |
| South Africa | 14 years old | |
| Switzerland | None | |
| Tenerife (Spain) | 14 years old | Jumpers between 14 and 16 years will need guardian or parental consent. |
| Thailand | None | Jumpers under 18 years will need guardian or parental consent. |
| Victoria Falls (Zimbabwe) | 14 years old | |
| Queenstown (New Zealand) | 10 years old | Children must go as a tandem jump. |
| United Kingdom | 14 years old | Jumpers between 14 and 16 years will need guardian or parental consent. |
| United States | None | Jumpers under 18 years will need guardian or parental consent. |
| Zambia | 14 years old | |
| Zimbabwe | 14 years old |
How old do you have to be to bungee jump off The Stratosphere?
To bungee jump off The Stratosphere you must be aged 14 years or older. If you are aged between 14 and 17 years old you must have a parent or guardian with you. They will have to sign a parental consent form in order for you to jump.
The Stratosphere in Las Vegas is one of the world’s tallest buildings and is a prime location for bungee jumping. But as you would expect there are some age restrictions in place.
What about upper age limits for bungee jumping?
Whilst you probably aren’t surprised that there are lower age limits, can you be too old to bungee jump? The truth is, there is no legal upper age limit in any of the countries and locations I researched for this guide.
However, certain operators will make stipulations. Here’s a few examples of what some operators say about maximum ages.
- Jumpers over 50 should seek medical advice before participating.
- Jumpers over 65 will need written permission from their doctor.
There is no upper age limit for bungee jumping, only restrictions that the operators will have put in place themselves.
Did You Know? The world’s oldest bungee jumper is thought to be Margit Tall from Finland. At 93 years old she bungee jumped 150 meters from a crane in Helsinki in 2014. You can read the report and watch a video on the Mail Online website.
What about how much you weigh?
Every operator and site will have different restrictions on weight. I researched into the most popular global bungee operators and came up with a global average for both the minimum and maximum weight limits.
Conclusion
You don’t have to be 18 to bungee jump apart from in Costa Rica. In most countries, 14 years old appears to be the average minimum jumping age. However, in most of these places people under 18 will need some form of waiver signed by a parent or guardian.