Drone Flight Calculator
Plan your missions with precision. Estimate flight time, range, and battery consumption based on over 50 drone models, custom payloads, and environmental conditions.
Select a model and conditions to calculate performance.
The Physics of Flight Time
Estimating drone flight time involves balancing energy capacity against power consumption. The basic formula considers the battery's total energy (Watt-hours) and the power required to generate enough thrust to lift the drone's weight. However, real-world conditions like wind resistance, air density, and aggressive maneuvering significantly deplete batteries faster than hovering in a lab.
Key Factors Affecting Range
- Payload Weight: Every gram counts. Adding propeller guards or a heavier camera forces motors to spin faster, drawing more current exponentially.
- Flying Style: "Sport Mode" or aggressive freestyle flying can double or triple power consumption compared to smooth cinematic cruising.
- Temperature: LiPo batteries rely on chemical reactions that slow down in the cold. Below 10°C (50°F), internal resistance spikes, causing voltage sag and reduced capacity.
- Wind: Fighting a headwind is the biggest range killer. If your drone flies at 10 m/s into a 5 m/s wind, your ground speed is halved, effectively doubling the energy needed to reach a destination.
Safety Margins are Vital
Lithium Polymer (LiPo) batteries suffer permanent damage if drained below a certain voltage (usually 3.5V per cell under load). Moreover, voltage sags dramatically near the end of a pack. Always plan to land with at least 20-30% battery remaining. This "reserve tank" is your insurance policy against unexpected wind shifts or go-arounds during landing.