Two lengths of fabric hanging from the ceiling — and suddenly your body becomes a means of expression. Aerial silks are one of the most versatile disciplines in aerial acrobatics, and getting started is easier than the spectacular images might suggest.
Here you'll find out which aerial silks are worth buying, how long they need to be, how to hang them safely, which moves you'll learn first as a beginner and what to watch out for when training at home — even if children are training too.
The Essentials at a Glance
- Aerial silks are suitable for everyone — no gymnastics background needed
- Length: the silk hangs folded in the middle, so it must be at least twice as long as the distance from the hanging point to the floor — minimum ceiling height at home 2.50 m
- Cost: beginner silk from €60, aerial silks with rigging as a set from €100–150
- Hang only from a load-bearing ceiling (concrete or solid wooden beams)
- Kids: classes usually start at around 6–8 years, at home only with checked rigging and always with supervision
- First moves: footlock, hiplock, pencil, star — close-fitting clothing, no zippers
Table of Contents
- What Are Aerial Silks? Explained Simply
- Buying Aerial Silks: Material, Length and Cost
- Aerial Silk Length and Ceiling Height
- Aerial Silk Rigging, Mounting and Hardware
- Aerial Silks at Home: Setup and Space
- Aerial Silks for Kids: Age, Height and Safety
- Aerial Silk Moves, Tricks and Wraps
- Aerial Silk Training, Exercises and Clothing
What Are Aerial Silks? Explained Simply
Aerial silks — also called aerial fabric, tissue or vertical silks — are a discipline of aerial acrobatics in which you climb, wrap yourself and hold poses in the air using two long lengths of fabric hanging from the ceiling. Unlike aerial hoop (lyra) or trapeze, you work with flexible material that you can wrap, knot and loop around your body. That makes aerial silks the most versatile and technically demanding aerial discipline.
Aerial silks consist of two lengths of fabric, 8–10 meters long, hanging from a central point on the ceiling. The material is usually a fabric that stretches in both directions, made of nylon or polyester, with a width of 160–180 cm.
Basically, aerial silks are open to everyone — you don't need a circus background or the splits to get started. As a beginner, you build strength, grip and technique step by step in training. Most studios offer introductory classes, and in just the first few hours you'll learn moves that feel impressive. If you're looking for a calmer option, aerial yoga offers an alternative that focuses on stretching instead of acrobatics.
Buying Aerial Silks: Material, Length and Cost
Buying aerial silks is worthwhile if you train regularly and know you'll stick with it. When it comes to material, the main difference is the amount of stretch: low-stretch fabrics are mostly used by beginners who are still learning to climb, while medium-stretch fabrics are chosen mainly by professionals. The fabrics are usually made of nylon or polyester. For getting started, low-stretch is recommended — a fabric with little give is easier to climb. Check the stretch and material in the product description, because the details vary from manufacturer to manufacturer.
The length depends on your ceiling height — you'll find the rule of thumb and a table in the next section. The width is usually 160–180 cm; the silk hangs folded in the middle, which creates the two lengths of fabric you work between.
Aerial Silk Length and Ceiling Height: How Long Does the Silk Need to Be?
Aerial silks must be at least twice as long as the distance from the hanging point to the floor. The reason: the fabric is folded in the middle and hangs as two lengths from the hanging point, so the total length is doubled. At a height of 3 m you therefore need at least 6 m of fabric, at 4 m at least 8 m.
| Height of the hanging point | Suitable silk length | Typical for |
|---|---|---|
| approx. 2.5–3 m | 6–7 m | Training at home in an apartment |
| approx. 4–5 m | 8–10 m | Standard length, high rooms and studios |
| Kids' setup | 4–5 m | low rigging, see the section on kids |
Ceiling height for aerial silks: At home you need at least 2.50 m, ideally 3 m or more. Measure the height from the planned hanging point to the floor — carabiners and swivels reduce the usable height.
Aerial silk length: The standard is 8–10 meters for a ceiling height of 4–5 meters; for home use (2.5–3 m ceiling), 6–7 meters are enough.
Which silk length do you need at a 2.6 m room height?
At a room height of 2.6 m, an aerial silk of 6 to 7 m fits. The table above recommends 6 to 7 m of fabric for ceilings of 2.5 to 3 m. The rule of thumb (twice the distance to the hanging point) works out at a minimum of 5.2 m for 2.6 m. You measure to the hanging point, not to the ceiling: carabiners and swivels reduce the usable height. Since 2.5 m is the minimum ceiling height at home, 2.6 m is only just above it, so measure precisely before you buy.
Aerial Silk Rigging, Mounting and Hardware
The rigging is the most critical point — an incorrect mount can be life-threatening. The ceiling must be able to support at least 300 kg of dynamic load. Concrete ceilings are ideal: with heavy-duty anchors (M10 or M12) and a steel mount you have a rock-solid base. Solid wooden beams also work, with long wood screws driven directly into the beam.
Drywall does not hold: the plasterboard carries nothing. Anchoring is done exclusively in the load-bearing structure behind it (concrete or a checked, solid beam), and whether it can bear the load must be clarified beforehand by a qualified professional or a structural engineer. Suspended ceilings are completely out of the question — in that case only a freestanding rig remains. For the mount itself there are ceiling plates with an eyelet (load spread across several anchors, 300–500 kg), heavy-duty ceiling hooks (200–300 kg) and freestanding frames for rental apartments (€200–400). You'll find more on rigs and frames in the aerial acrobatics guide.
When in doubt, always have the rigging installed or checked by a professional. The €50–100 for this is not up for negotiation when forces of up to 300 kg are involved.
Which ceiling types are suitable and what to look out for with drywall, wooden beams or aerated concrete is explained in the guide Hanging an Aerial Yoga Hammock: Ceiling and Installation. With aerial silks, swinging and drops add higher dynamic loads than in aerial yoga — so always have the rigging checked. For the hoop there is a separate section in the aerial hoop guide.
Aerial Silks at Home: Setup and Space
Setting up aerial silks at home is possible if the conditions are right: a load-bearing ceiling, at least 2.50 m ceiling height (ideally 3 m+), at least 2×2 meters of clear space around the hanging point and a thick crash mat underneath. No furniture nearby, no lamp within reach, a level, non-slip floor.
Mat for aerial silks: A thick crash mat belongs under the silk as fall protection — at least 10 cm for adults, at least 20 cm for kids. Kids have their own rules as well, which the next section sums up.
Aerial Silks for Kids: Age, Height and Safety
Kids' classes on aerial silks usually start at around 6 to 8 years. Starting at 6 at the earliest is recommended, ideally from 8. Each studio sets its own minimum age, and it also depends on your child's development. The basics belong in a class with trained coaches — at home the rule is: only with checked rigging and always with supervision.
Aerial Silks for Kids at Home: Setup and Checklist
Special rules apply to kids: lower rigging (max. 1.5 m above the floor for beginners), a shorter silk (4–5 meters are enough), thicker crash mats (at least 20 cm) and always supervision. Never leave kids unsupervised on the silk — for children, even more strictly than for adults, aerial equipment belongs exclusively under expert supervision and is never a free-play toy.
- Rigging max. 1.5 m above the floor
- Shorter silk, 4–5 meters are enough
- Crash mat at least 20 cm thick
- Always with supervision, never alone on the silk
- Start playfully — sitting, swinging, lying in the fabric, rather than moves straight away
Aerial silks for kids at home: The rigging must be just as load-bearing and checked as for adults, plus low rigging, a short silk and a thick mat (see the checklist).
Kid's room, first steps and exercises for kids
Aerial silks in a kid's room: The ceiling in a kid's room has to be load-bearing too — drywall alone does not hold, suspended ceilings are off limits. If the ceiling isn't suitable, a freestanding frame remains; low frames for kids start at around €150.
Aerial silks for kids, first steps: The start is playful — sitting, swinging and lying in the fabric instead of practicing moves right away.
Aerial silk exercises for kids: Kids learn moves and exercises on the silk in class. At home it stays with playful sitting and swinging, because learning moves from videos is risky — the wraps have to be exactly right. Drops and upside-down positions belong exclusively under professional guidance.
Trained coaches with experience teaching children and teens, enough fall protection and mats, small groups for individual attention and no unsupervised training on private frames or rigs.
Kids' silk (4–5 m) approx. €40–80, low frame approx. €150–300, crash mats approx. €50–150.
Ready for your first aerial silks class?
Clothing that moves with you when wrapping, climbing and in every move — developed from real training.
Discover aerial acrobatics clothingAerial Silk Moves, Tricks and Wraps
Aerial Silk Wraps: Footlock, Hiplock and Co.
Before you learn tricks, you need the basic wraps. The footlock — the fabric wraps around your foot and gives secure hold — is the most important one. Next come the hiplock (a wrap around the hip), single wrap and double wrap. These wraps are the foundation for all moves and drops.
In training, aerial silk knots therefore means these wraps, in which the fabric holds your foot, hip or body. The rigging, on the other hand, consists of certified equipment — ceiling plate, carabiner and swivel — and is not for experimenting: no DIY here.
Aerial Silk Tricks and Moves for Beginners
The first moves for beginners: pencil (extended basic posture), stag (one leg bent, elegant and photogenic), star (arms and legs spread) and cocoon (completely wrapped, perfect for relaxing). You'll get detailed instruction in a class — learning moves from videos is risky on aerial silks because the wraps have to be exactly right.
Advanced Tricks: Splits, Inversions and Drops
Advanced tricks include splits in the fabric, inversions (upside-down positions) and drops — controlled falls in which the fabric catches you. Drops look spectacular but belong exclusively under professional guidance. If you also train on the pole, you'll find parallels with pole dance moves — the demands on strength and grip overlap significantly. If you want to try platform heels, there is the heels dance guide for beginners, and if you plan to put up a pole at home, the guide on buying a pole dance pole covers setup and costs.
Aerial Silk Training, Exercises and Clothing
A typical class lasts 60–90 minutes: warm-up and mobilization (15 min), strength and flexibility exercises on the floor (15 min), technique on the silk — wraps, moves, combinations (40–50 min) — and cool-down (10 min). For beginners, 1–2 sessions per week are enough; advanced students often train 3–4 times a week. What many people underestimate: your hands and forearms need weeks at first to get used to the strain.
Floor exercises complement training on the silk: climbing exercises for grip strength, hollow body holds for core tension, stretching exercises for splits and backbends. A structured training plan with conditioning and technique blocks will get you further, faster, than silk training alone without a plan.
When it comes to clothing: close-fitting, no loose parts, no zippers. Long leggings protect the skin during wraps on the legs, a close-fitting top leaves the armpits free — for many moves you need skin contact there. Bodysuits are the most versatile option because they don't slip. Grip aid for sweaty hands rounds off the setup. You'll find suitable pieces for every move in the aerial acrobatics collection.
Your Clothes for the Next Training Session
Maximum grip, perfect fit — developed by a dancer for dancers.
To the CollectionConclusion: Aerial Silks for Beginners
- Aerial silks = two lengths of fabric for moves, wraps and drops in the air
- No prior knowledge needed — you build strength and technique in class
- Length: at least twice the height up to the hanging point
- Buying: from €60 for the fabric only, from €100–150 as a set with rigging
- Anchor only in concrete or solid wooden beams, never in drywall
- Kids: classes usually from 6–8 years, at home only with supervision and lower rigging
On aerial silks you don't just learn moves — you learn to trust your body. The first footlock feels impossible until, suddenly, it isn't.
"Trust in your own ability doesn't grow on the ground, but at the moment you entrust yourself to the fabric."
