Drones have evolved from being a novelty toy to an essential tool across a multitude of professional industries ranging from photography to agriculture and utility inspections. As the popularity of drones has increased and their professional applications grow, more and more people are purchasing their own drones for recreational or business purposes. At Rocket Drones, our drone professionals have used a wide range of platforms from the more affordable toys to high-end professional systems. In this article, we will discuss a general range of drones and potential pricing, factors that can impact price, and some additional costs to consider before purchasing your drone.
Understanding Types of Drones & Pricing
The price of a drone can vary greatly based on several factors, including its purpose, features, quality of the build, and the brand name. We’ve separated them into categories to help you understand how much you should expect to spend depending on what you’re looking for.
- Toy drones. As the name suggests, these smaller drones are primarily used for recreational purposes and toys. They are often small, lightweight, and have minimal onboard features. These platforms are usually used by beginners and younger pilots. Any on-board camera system will typically be not ideal for professional photography and videography. You can pick up one of these toy drones for as little as $50 to start flying.
- Entry-level drones. These drones are ideal for beginner pilots who want something slightly above what toy drones are capable of. They generally have more more advanced stability controls, better battery life, and enhanced on-board camera functionality. On the higher end, some of them may even have features like object avoidance and GPS. Entry-level drones can range anywhere from $100 to $300 depending on brand and capabilities.
- Mid-range drones. These platforms are generally for the intermediate drone operators who have been piloting UAS for a couple of years. The features can include enhanced GPS and object avoidance with a more robust set of controls. Additionally, these drones are able to perform more complex maneuvers and tasks and are outfitted with much nicer cameras for high-end photography and video capabilities. Pilots should expect to spend anywhere from $300 to $800 on these platforms depending on the brand and additional features.
- Professional drones. This is the top of the line. These drones are exclusively used by commercial providers and other professionals. They feature the best camera systems, GPS, and controls in the industry. These top-of-the-line features make professional applications possible, including cinematography, surveying and mapping, security, and more. You can read more about how drones are being used professionally in this article. These systems can cost anywhere from $800 to over $8,000 for some of the best brands in the game.
- FPV & racing drones. This is a different class of drone entirely. These platforms are built specifically for high speeds and agility. They are used for everything from the competitive racing world to cinematography for mind-blowing video footage. Only the most skilled pilots can unlock the true potential of these drones as they use FPV goggles for a completely immersive piloting experience. The controls are some of the most advanced in the game and the camera quality is often top notch. The price range on these drones can vary drastically, including kits anywhere from $300 to over $2,000 for the top-of-the-line models.
Additional Drone Costs to Consider
For many, purchasing a drone may be one piece of the puzzle financially. To truly have a realistic budget for your drone, you should leave room for other additional expenses that might come your way as a drone pilot, especially if you are working towards becoming a commercial operator. Here are a few things to consider when putting together your annual, ongoing drone budget.
- Repairs and maintenance. This is specifically critical for commercial operators who are using their drones for daily work. As any tool, drones go through regular wear and tear. This can include broken propellers, worn down batteries, bad motors, etc. You should expect to have to replace broken components regularly throughout the lifespan of the platform. Additionally, this is a good reminder for commercial operators that you should always have a backup platform in the event that a drone is down for maintenance. You don’t want to be stuck in a scenario where you have a job coming up and no access to a drone because yours is being worked on.
- FAA Part 107 certification. This is less of an ongoing expense and more of a one-timer. The Part 107 from the FAA is mandatory for U.S. pilots who want to do commercial drone work. Between preparation materials and the certification itself, you will need to set aside a couple hundred dollars to get yourself certified. We go into a deeper dive on this topic in our article that talks about how to fly drones commercially.
- Commercial insurance. As a commercial drone pilot, there will inevitably be jobs that require you to have insurance. This insurance protects you as a pilot in the event that an accident happens that causes injury or damage to either a person or property on the job site. Some clients on certain jobs may not even hire you at all if you’re not insured, so you should plan to have a current policy at all times to protect yourself and make yourself eligible for work. Most policies range anywhere from $500 to $1,000 annually.
- Register with Drone Zone. The FAA requires that you register each of your drones with their Drone Zone. This is only $5 per drone for a five year term.
Final Thoughts on Drone Pricing
Drones can be affordable toys for a fun gift idea to expensive professional rigs that require a license and years of experience just to fly. As with most things, brand names and other intangibles such as trends and marketing can greatly affect the pricing. The good news is that, if you’re in the market for a drone, there is certainly no shortage of options. Take the time to shop around and find the best brand and best system for you and you should have no problem finding something within your budget.
The Rocket Drones Difference
You can give your students a foundation in drone education and safety with Rocket Drones. We are the premier provider of drone racing, drone curriculum, and drone career training for middle schools, high schools, and colleges. Our mission is to expose students to the exciting world of drones and help them develop the skills and certifications necessary to succeed in various technology-related careers.
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If you’re ready to take the next step with Rocket Drones at your school, learn more about it and get in touch with us on our curriculums page.