Drones come in various sizes and designs, serving diverse purposes. They can be small, toy-like drones meant for casual fun or large, professional-grade drones used for capturing stunning aerial photography or conducting complex inspections.
What affects the price of a drone? The cost depends on numerous factors such as utility, features, and regional pricing. Drones can range from under $50 to over $50,000. Beginner toy drones usually cost between $30 and $300, while entry-level camera drones fall between $500 and $2,000. Mid-level consumer drones typically cost from $2,000 to $10,000, and high-end professional drones can exceed $50,000.
Read on to understand the price ranges and features of different drone categories and pick the one that best fits your requirements.
How Much Do Different Categories of Drones Cost?
Are you thinking about purchasing a drone? Fantastic! Before you decide, ask yourself why you want to buy a drone. This question is crucial since it will determine the type of drone you choose. The market offers various drones designed for specific needs, but a high-priced drone doesn’t always guarantee superior quality.
For instance, some people desire drones capable of capturing breathtaking images outdoors, so they prioritize high-quality cameras. Others, however, may be content with racing drones indoors, accepting lower video quality for enhanced maneuverability.
Below, we’ve listed several common drone types along with their price ranges.
First-time Pilots and Practice Drone: $30-$300
These drones are small and often called toy drones, with prices typically ranging from $30 to $300. Designed as simple models for basic flight, toy drones are straightforward and safe, offering entertainment and outdoor fun for all ages.
We always suggest inexpensive drones for beginners, regardless of your long-term goals. Firstly, the low price allows you to fly freely without fearing crashes. Secondly, these drones are very user-friendly, giving new pilots a sense of control and a general understanding of how drones function.
However, toy drones usually have a short battery life, averaging 10 minutes. Most lack onboard altitude stabilization sensors or GPS positioning, requiring constant joystick adjustments and patience to keep them airborne. Their onboard cameras are typically of low resolution, making them nearly useless for cinematography.
Some good examples to start with include:
- Hubsan H107
- Syma X5c
- Ryze Tello
Intermediate or Beginner Racing Drones: $300-$1,000
If you've spent some time flying toy drones and are ready to advance, intermediate drones priced between $300 and $1,000 are ideal. These drones are also great for beginner racers looking to improve their piloting skills, offering all the features of professional racing drones but at a slower pace.
Intermediate drones are more expensive than beginner models but come with enhanced features. They often include GPS sensors, making flying easier. You can expect up to 30 minutes of flight time. Higher-resolution cameras and longer control distances are also common.
However, the cameras on drones in this price range are usually not of high quality and you will inevitably face issues with video quality. Moreover, while these drones are easier to fly, you must read the manual carefully before taking off, familiarize yourself with all the controls, and practice at low altitude and low speed before flying.
Examples of good racing drones include:
- Hubsan H502S Desire
- Walkera Rodeo 110
- Hubsan H501S
Entry-level drone for photography: $500-$2,000
If capturing great-looking photos and videos with a drone excites you more than the thrill of flight control, this type of drone will suit you perfectly. An entry-level camera drone costs between $500 and $2,000, offering an excellent camera experience.
Drones in this category usually have 1080p to 2.7k video resolution, a 12-megapixel sensor, and a 1/2.3-inch fixed lens. Besides the camera capabilities, the real value of these drones lies in their flight stability. Without a gimbal, they can produce blurry and shaky footage, affecting video quality.
Good examples of drones in this range:
- DJI Mavic Pro
- Potensic Dreamer 4K
- DJI Mavic Mini
Mid-range consumer drones: $2,000-$10,000
If you’re seriously considering drone footage as a career or if you’re willing to invest more in a hobby, a mid-level or prosumer drone is your best option. These drones usually cost between $2,000 and $10,000 and are specifically designed for professional-level photography and filming.
These expensive drones have a 3-axis stabilized camera gimbal and older versions use a 1/2.3-inch camera sensor, but the newest models offer a 48-megapixel 1/2-inch sensor. Beyond the advanced camera, these drones are equipped with an auto-flight feature and obstacle avoidance sensors to enhance flight safety. Additionally, you’ll find high-quality computing power and perhaps more sophisticated software for better image processing.
Some examples are:
- DJI Inspire 2
- DJI Mavic 2 Pro
- DJI Air 2S
Professional or High-end Drones: $50,000 and Above
Professional drones have truly transformed aerial photography. These drones are increasingly used by film studios for professional-level filming and cinematography. They are quite expensive, ranging from $50,000 and upwards.
These heavy-duty drones are usually large enough to carry large cameras used for filming movies and even hold up all the remote controls. In addition, they all have built-in cameras that offer a variety of innovative views and unique perspectives.
This category includes drones like:
- DJI Phantom 4 Pro
- Yuneec Typhoon H Plus
- DJI Mavic 2 Enterprise
Commercial or Industrial Drones: $50,000 and Up
The difference between professional drones and commercial drones isn't just about price but also application. Industrial or commercial drones are built for tasks like inspection, mapping, surveillance, search and rescue missions, package delivery, and even passenger flight.
- Read more: Everything you need to know about drone inspection
It's common for industrial drones to carry infrared cameras, which are critical in field inspection and search and rescue operations. In rescue operations, industrial drones can also carry food, water, and medicine. Commercial drones are also widely used in agriculture. They can carry hyperspectral cameras to help farmers monitor soil quality and crop damage and for spraying pesticides.
Great examples of commercial drones:
- JOUAV CW-15
- JOUAV CW-25
- JOUAV CW-30E
How much does a camera drone cost?
You can expect to pay $1,000-$5,000 for camera drones that are good enough to take clear photos and smooth videos. These drones with cameras have higher than 720p quality, a good gimbal, and at least 20 minutes of flight time, but they don't have the other features of high-end cameras, such as waypoints and ultra-lapse time.
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