Aerial Silks Length Calculator and Guide: What Size Aerial Fabric Do You Need?
The right aerial fabric length is key to performance, safety, and flow—whether you're training at home, outfitting your studio, or performing on stage. Use our silk calculator below to size up your space and discover the silks that work best for you.
Find Your Flow: What You Can Do at Different Heights
Your rig height and fabric length shape your aerial experience—and how you train, move, and evolve in the air on your aerial journey. Lower ceilings 10ft and under, common in home setups, are ideal for aerial Yoga and Pilates with an aerial hammock, as well as strength and conditioning work that supports your silks practice. With 8m-10m of fabric, you can explore a wide range of beginner and intermediate movements including wraps, spins, poses, and holds. As you move beyond 10ft, new possibilities open—dynamic drops, windmills, and extended climbs that harness gravity and momentum begin to come alive.
At greater heights, your flight becomes even more expressive. Fabric lengths of 12–16m allow you to unlock advanced transitions, long sequencing flows, and dramatic multi-rotation drops like double star, salto, or catcher’s lock roll. These lengths give you room to build height, release power, and move through the air with artistry and control.
For elite-level studios, circus performers, and large-scale productions, 18m+ fabrics are cut for big air. Here, gravity becomes your partner in performance. Signature acts like dramatic double-release drops, Heli-splits, and back-to-back dynamic sequences gain the space they need to land cleanly and safely—bringing the height, drama, and control expected from stage-ready movement.
Understanding Fabric Pool: Finding the Right Amount Tail
Fabric pool refers to the extra material that rests on the ground when your silks are rigged. It’s not just aesthetic—it’s functional. At lower rigging heights, a generous fabric pool of 6ft (2m) or more is essential. It gives you enough working fabric to wrap, invert, and flow without restriction. More pool at low heights ensures you can safely perform moves like footlocks, hammock transitions, or supported inversions without running out of tail. As your ceiling height increases, less pool is often better. At higher elevations, minimizing excess fabric helps streamline your setup, reduces tangling, and keeps long drops and climbs smooth and efficient. The sweet spot is a balance—enough fabric to move confidently, but never so much that it interrupts your flow.
Rule of thumb: Balance your pool for movement, safety, and flow. Enough to move freely—never so much that it slows you down.
Ready to Rise? Your Journey Starts Here
No matter where you are in your aerial journey, the right fabric length can elevate your practice—literally. With the right setup, you’ll move more confidently, train more effectively, and flow with intention. When in doubt, revisit this guide, use the calculator, and choose the length that supports your space, your goals, and your next move in the air.
Find your perfect length.
| Fabric Length | Recommended Rig Height Range | Pool Size Range (Min to Max) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Meters | Yards | Meters | Feet | Meters | Feet |
| 5 m | 5.5 yd | Under 2.5 m | Under 8 ft | Recommended as a Yoga Hammock Only | |
| 8 m | 9 yd | 2.5 – 3 m | 8 – 10 ft | 1 – 2 m | 3 – 7ft |
| 10 m | 11 yd | 3 – 4.3 m | 10 – 13 ft | 1 – 3 m | 4 – 10 ft |
| 12 m | 13 yd | 4.3 – 5.5 m | 13 – 16 ft | 1 – 3 m | 4 – 10 ft |
| 14 m | 15 yd | 5.5 – 6.7 m | 16 – 20 ft | 1 – 3 m | 3 – 11 ft |
| 16 m | 17.5 yd | 6.7 – 7.6 m | 20 – 25 ft | 0 – 3 m | 0 – 10 ft |
| 18 m | 19.5 yd | 8 m + | 26 ft + | 1 m | 4 ft |
