Drone pricing calculator
Know your number before you quote.
Tell us about the job, your time and your costs. You get the least you can charge, three prices to quote, and how they stack up against rates other pilots report.
- Free, no signup
- Every assumption shown
- Sourced pay ranges
How to use your numbers
Quote Standard
It pays for the hours nobody bills: quotes, emails, weather days and the drive to a job that gets rained out. Start here unless you have a reason not to.
Use Basic to win early clients
Basic is the number to beat when you are building a portfolio. Never go below your cost floor. At that point you are paying to work.
Put Premium on the same quote
Offer rush delivery, extra shots or more revisions at the Premium price. Many clients pick the middle option when they can see a bigger one.
Run it again when things change
More jobs a year spreads your insurance thinner. A new drone raises gear wear. Your price should move with your costs.
Where the ranges come from
The market ranges are rates people report in public: a photo editing company's guide, one practitioner's rate card, a spraying equipment blog. They are useful for a sanity check, and they are not a promise of what you will earn. Some we could re-check on September 13, 2026, and one we could not, so every range shows its confidence and date.
Your cost floor is the part you can trust most, because it is built from your own numbers. The market adjustment for lower and higher cost areas is our rough estimate.
| Source | Used for | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| PhotoUp: Drone real estate photography pricing (opens in a new tab) | Real estate range Dated 2026-03-12 | Medium |
| One practitioner's rate card, r/Part107 (May 2026) (opens in a new tab) | Roof, construction and wedding ranges Dated 2026-05 | Low, not re-checked |
| DroneBundle: Drone spraying cost per acre (opens in a new tab) | Spraying price per acre Dated 2026 | Low |
| Fonzi.ai review of Zeitview mission pay (third-party blog) (opens in a new tab) | Roof cross-check Dated 2026-03-16 | Low |
| BWI: Drone liability insurance cost (opens in a new tab) | Insurance hint Dated 2025 | Medium |
| IRS: Standard mileage rates (opens in a new tab) | Car cost per mile Dated 2026 (July 1 to Dec. 31 rate) | High |
Not sure you can legally take the job yet? Check if you need a drone license.
Questions about pricing drone work
How much should I charge for real estate drone photos?
PhotoUp reports $75 to $150 per property for beginners, $150 to $300 for intermediate photographers and $300 to $500 or more for professionals. Check that your price covers your time, car and insurance before you pick your spot in that range.
What do drone pilots charge for a roof inspection?
One practitioner's public rate card lists $150 to $400 per roof, and a third-party review of Zeitview missions lists $175 to $275 for a residential roof. Both are low-confidence sources, so use them as a sanity check, not a price list.
Should I charge for travel on drone jobs?
Yes, one way or another. The IRS 2026 business rate is 76 cents per mile for July through December, and this calculator counts every round-trip mile at that rate plus your drive time. On long drives, a separate travel fee keeps your base price competitive.
Do I need a license to charge for drone work?
Yes. Any flight for a business or client falls under Part 107, paid or not, so you need a Remote Pilot Certificate before you fly the job. Our free license check walks through your situation in about a minute.
Now find the work that fits your price.
Take the two-minute quiz to find your kind of drone job, or get licensed and ready for your first paid flight for $49 once.