Ski Binding DIN Setting Calculator
Find the ISO 11088 chart DIN release value for your ski bindings from weight, height, boot sole length, age and skier type (−1, 1, 2, 3 or 3+), with your skier code, the twist and forward-lean torques, a check against your binding’s DIN range and the full release chart. A starting point only: have a certified technician set and test your bindings.
How it works
Skier code: weight row (A–M) and height row (H–M), use the row nearer A · type −1: −1 row, type 1: no change, type 2: +1, type 3: +2, type 3+: +3 · age under 10 or 50+: −1 row · DIN = chart value at (skier code, boot sole length column)
A DIN (ISO 9462 indicator) value sets how much twisting and forward-lean force a binding holds before it lets the boot go. Set too low, the ski comes off mid-turn; set too high, a fall can tear a knee ligament or break a leg before the binding releases. The ISO 11088 and ASTM F939 procedure gives each skier a code letter. You read one row from your weight and one from your height and keep the row nearer A. Skier type then moves you down the chart: type 1 stays put, type 2 moves one row, type 3 two rows and type 3+ three. Skiers under 10 or aged 50 and over move one row back toward A. The code fixes the target release torques, from 8 N·m twist for code A to 105 N·m for code P. The value you dial in comes from your boot sole length. A longer sole gives the binding more leverage, so it needs a lower number for the same torque at the leg. This calculator shows your code, how it was reached, the torques, the result for every skier type and sole length, and the whole chart. It is the starting value only. A certified technician should set both toe and heel, adjust forward pressure and test the release on a calibrated machine.
Worked example
A 78 kg (172 lb), 178 cm (5′10″) type 2 skier aged 35 with a 315 mm boot sole. Weight row K (67–78 kg) and height row K (167–178 cm) give a starting code of K. Type 2 moves one row to L, and no age adjustment applies, so the skier code is L. On the chart, code L in the 311–330 mm column reads DIN 6.0, with target torques of 58 N·m twist and 229 N·m forward lean. As a type 3 the skier would be code M, DIN 7.0. At 52 years old, the age adjustment would bring a type 2 back to code K, DIN 5.0.
Sources: ISO 11088 — Assembly, adjustment and inspection of an alpine ski/binding/boot system
Frequently asked questions
Should I set my own bindings?
No. Turning the screw to a number is easy, but the scale can be off on a worn or old binding, and forward pressure has to be right for the release to work. A certified shop technician sets toe and heel and checks the actual release torque on a test device. It is a small fee for protecting your knees.
Why does a longer boot sole lower the DIN?
Release is a torque at your leg. A longer sole gives the binding more leverage, so the same protective torque is reached with a lower number on the scale.
Which skier type am I?
Type 1 if you ski cautiously at slow speeds on gentle runs. Type 2 if you ski at varied speeds on most terrain, which describes most people. Type 3 if you ski fast and aggressively on steep terrain. Type 3+ is for racers and experts who accept more injury risk to avoid pre-release, and type −1 is for people who want lower than type 1. If in doubt, pick the lower type.
Why is my result one step higher than another DIN calculator?
Under the ISO 11088 / ASTM F939 procedure the weight and height code applies to a type 1 skier, and type 2 moves one row down the chart. Some websites treat type 2 as the unchanged code, which gives one row lower. The type table here shows the value for every type, and your technician will confirm the right one for your binding.
What DIN does a 70 kg skier need?
It depends on height, boot sole and type. A 70 kg, 175 cm skier (code K) with a 305 mm sole gets 5.5 as type 1, 6.5 as type 2 and 8.0 as type 3.
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