Typical price Drone real estate photos: about $150–$400 per homeTip Paid drone work requires an FAA Part 107 certificateGear DJI Mini 4K: about $299Typical price Drone photos + short video: about $300–$650 per listingTip Drones are banned in all national parksBend fall tip Calm mornings make the best Cascade aerialsTypical price Luxury home aerials: about $400–$1,200Tip No drones within 3 miles of big stadiums during gamesGear DJI Mini 5 Pro: about $679Typical price Drone add-on for listing photos: about $95–$150Tip Never fly near a wildfire. “If you fly, we can't.”Missoula fall tip River fog burns off by mid-morning, so fly thenTypical price Wedding drone coverage: about $400–$1,500Tip Flying near airports? Get LAANC approval firstGear DJI Air 3S: about $1,099Typical price Event aerial video: about $500–$1,500Tip No launching or landing in wilderness areasAsheville fall tip Peak color usually runs mid-to-late OctoberTypical price Construction progress flight: about $250–$600 per visitTip Check state park rules: many require a permitGear DJI Mavic 4 Pro: about $2,199Typical price Monthly construction updates: about $1,500–$3,500Tip Oregon opened 20 state parks to drones in Aug 2026Portland, Maine fall tip Lighthouse shoots need LAANC near the JetportTypical price Drone roof inspection: about $150–$600Tip Remote ID is required on drones 250 g and upGear DJI Neo 2: about $259Typical price Land and site mapping: about $10–$30 per acreTip Best light for aerials: the hour after sunriseRapid City fall tip Custer State Park allows drones; Mount Rushmore doesn'tTypical price Hire a drone pilot: about $125–$400 per hourTip Ask about drone add-ons when you book listing photosGear DJI Osmo Pocket 3: about $439Tip Fall foliage peak: book your aerial shoot earlySanta Fe fall tip Fly early, before afternoon windAnchorage fall tip Golden birch season is short, so book earlyCedar Rapids fall tip Harvest fields make great aerial patternsTypical price Drone real estate photos: about $150–$400 per homeTip Paid drone work requires an FAA Part 107 certificateGear DJI Mini 4K: about $299Typical price Drone photos + short video: about $300–$650 per listingTip Drones are banned in all national parksBend fall tip Calm mornings make the best Cascade aerialsTypical price Luxury home aerials: about $400–$1,200Tip No drones within 3 miles of big stadiums during gamesGear DJI Mini 5 Pro: about $679Typical price Drone add-on for listing photos: about $95–$150Tip Never fly near a wildfire. “If you fly, we can't.”Missoula fall tip River fog burns off by mid-morning, so fly thenTypical price Wedding drone coverage: about $400–$1,500Tip Flying near airports? Get LAANC approval firstGear DJI Air 3S: about $1,099Typical price Event aerial video: about $500–$1,500Tip No launching or landing in wilderness areasAsheville fall tip Peak color usually runs mid-to-late OctoberTypical price Construction progress flight: about $250–$600 per visitTip Check state park rules: many require a permitGear DJI Mavic 4 Pro: about $2,199Typical price Monthly construction updates: about $1,500–$3,500Tip Oregon opened 20 state parks to drones in Aug 2026Portland, Maine fall tip Lighthouse shoots need LAANC near the JetportTypical price Drone roof inspection: about $150–$600Tip Remote ID is required on drones 250 g and upGear DJI Neo 2: about $259Typical price Land and site mapping: about $10–$30 per acreTip Best light for aerials: the hour after sunriseRapid City fall tip Custer State Park allows drones; Mount Rushmore doesn'tTypical price Hire a drone pilot: about $125–$400 per hourTip Ask about drone add-ons when you book listing photosGear DJI Osmo Pocket 3: about $439Tip Fall foliage peak: book your aerial shoot earlySanta Fe fall tip Fly early, before afternoon windAnchorage fall tip Golden birch season is short, so book earlyCedar Rapids fall tip Harvest fields make great aerial patterns

Prices are estimates. How we get them

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Prices are estimates

How We Get Them

Our price ranges come from published 2026 US rate guides and marketplace data, including Thumbtack, HomeGuide, Angi, RotorRate, Drone Pilot Ground School and industry pricing surveys, plus retailer prices for gear. Prices vary by location, airspace, travel, editing and pilot experience. Ask for a written quote before you book.

Sources

Typical US prices (2026)

These are typical prices pilots and customers report in the US as of October 2026. Real prices vary with location, airspace, travel, editing and pilot experience. They are estimates, not quotes.

ServiceTypical US priceSources
Aerial photo/video, hourly (marketplace data)$102–$367/hr; most people pay about $125/hrThumbtack
Aerial photo/video, hourly (pro rates)$150–$400/hrDroneList, The Drone U
Hourly by pilot experienceBeginner $100–$200; intermediate $200–$350Drone Pilot Ground School
Real estate, drone photos only (5–10 edited)$100–$400 (mid-market $150–$250)RotatePilot
Real estate, drone photos + 30–60 sec video$200–$650 (mid-market $300–$450)RotatePilot
Real estate, residential shoot$150–$400; luxury or commercial $400–$1,200RotorRate
Drone add-on to listing photosAbout $95–$150 (example rate card)Lucrative Dynamics
Wedding: drone added to videography$400–$1,200Plana
Wedding: standalone drone operator (2–4 hrs)$500–$1,500Plana
Wedding videographer (national average)About $2,300 (The Knot)Paperlust
Events$500–$1,500 per projectDroneList
Commercial / brand video$200–$500/hr; $1,000–$5,000+ per projectDrone Launch Academy
Construction: single progress visit$250–$600RotorRate
Construction: monthly retainer$1,500–$3,500 (2 visits); $3,000–$5,000 (4 visits)RotorRate
Roof inspection (residential)$150–$600; most pay about $375HomeGuide
Roof inspection by area$75–$120 per 1,000 sq ftAngi
Mapping (basic orthomosaic)$10–$30/acre, plus a $500–$3,000 project minimumNorthern Drone
Mapping (engineering topo with ground control)$50–$150/acreNorthern Drone
Small airplane (Cessna 172/182) + pilot, aerial photography$190/hr (172 + pilot) to $500/hr (182), plus a photographerSky Chiefs, Yosemite Flights
Helicopter (Robinson R44) + pilot, aerial photography$665–$900/hr, 1-hour minimum is standardSpecialized Aviation, Quantum, Lite Flight
LiDAR surveyAbout $50–$300/acre; $1,500–$15,000+ per projectNorthern Drone, JOUAV

Prices are estimates. How we get them

Gear prices in the ticker and the shop were checked October 10, 2026 at the retailer named next to each product. Prices change daily.

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