Drone Filming Cost Guide: Day Rates by Crew and Shoot Type
What aerial photo and video shoots typically cost in the US — from real estate packages to a two-person cinema drone unit.
Typical price ranges (guidance only)
Published industry pricing guides put basic residential or real estate aerial photos at roughly US$100–300 and packages with video at US$250–800. Commercial shoots commonly run US$400–1,200. A drone operator on day labour is often quoted at US$500–1,100 per day, while a high-end aerial unit is typically US$2,500–5,500 per day, and a cinema package (cinema drone plus FPV with a two-person crew) is around US$3,800 per day. Wedding drone add-ons usually sit between US$200 and US$800. Treat these as starting points, not quotes.
What moves the price
Crew size (a solo pilot versus a pilot plus dedicated camera operator), the aircraft and camera package, the number of shooting hours, travel, permits and airspace work, insurance level, editing and colour grading, and turnaround time all change the price. Major metros commonly carry a 20–40% premium, and rush delivery can add 25–50%.
Dry hire versus crewed hire
Rental houses rent drone packages "dry" (equipment only) from around US$400–600 per day, but you then need your own licensed pilot and insurance. For most productions a crewed hire — the provider supplies pilot, camera operator, aircraft, batteries and insurance — is simpler and safer.
How to compare quotes fairly
Send every provider the same brief: shoot date, location type, whether people will be below the flight area, the equipment you want, crew size, deliverables and whether permit or airspace support is needed. Our quote form captures all of this so quotes are comparable line by line.
Ready to compare providers?
Describe your project once and get quotes from suitable drone filming providers.