Market rates · United States · updated Nov 3, 2026
What commercial drone work costs in 2026.
Most commercial drone jobs in the US fall between $150 and $3,500. A residential real estate shoot runs $150–$375, a roof inspection $150–$400, a 20-acre orthomosaic map $800–$1,800 and a half-day of commercial video $1,000–$2,800. Pilots bill $150–$400 per hour, but most jobs are quoted flat per deliverable.
Hourly
$150–$400typical $250Half day (4 h)
$600–$1,500typical $950Day rate
$1,200–$2,500typical $1,800Rates by job type
| Job | Typical package | Low | Typical | High |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Real estate photography & videoFlat per listing | 2,500 sq ft · Residential listing | $150 | $250 | $375 |
| Construction progress monitoringPer visit, often on contract | 10 acres · One-time visit | $350 | $535 | $835 |
| Roof inspectionFlat per roof | 2,500 sq ft · Residential pitched | $150 | $250 | $400 |
| Thermal inspectionFlat per site | 20,000 sq ft · Building envelope | $400 | $650 | $1,000 |
| Weddings & eventsFlat package by hours | 3 hours · Add-on to the photo or video team | $475 | $750 | $1,175 |
| Mapping & surveyPer acre with a project minimum | 20 acres · Visual orthomosaic, no ground control | $800 | $1,200 | $1,800 |
| Cinematic & commercial videoHalf-day and day rates | 4 hours · Solo pilot | $1,000 | $1,600 | $2,800 |
| Scan-to-BIM & 3D scanningPer building | 25,000 sq ft · Exterior envelope, LOD 200 | $2,500 | $4,000 | $7,000 |
| Stockpile volumetricsPer visit, by pile count | 8 piles · One-time | $525 | $820 | $1,300 |
| Agriculture mappingPer acre with a minimum | 300 acres · RGB orthomosaic | $600 | $950 | $1,500 |
| Cell tower & utility inspectionPer structure | 3 structures · Monopole cell tower | $900 | $1,600 | $3,000 |
| Insurance claim documentationPer property, routed by trip | 1 property · Residential roof or hail | $150 | $275 | $450 |
| Solar inspectionPer site; per MW at scale | 1 MW · Standard thermal plus RGB | $500 | $800 | $1,300 |
Rates by size, with add-ons
Low–high at the US benchmark. Per-unit add-ons carry a project minimum. Rush turnaround adds 20% (48 hours) or 35% (next day). Multiply by the metro index below for a local range.
Market index · 100 US metros
1.00 = US benchmark. Scales the whole estimate, add-ons included. Airspace is noted but not priced.
Method
Market ranges
Low, typical and high figures come from published rate guides, marketplace listings and pilot rate cards, reconciled per job and checked against the hourly benchmark. Sizes between anchor points are interpolated.
Market index
An Air Pixels estimate per metro blending regional price levels with local pay for photographers and survey technicians.
Not included
Sales tax, travel beyond about 50 miles, permits and location fees, airspace waivers, a surveyor’s stamp, spraying and interior scanning.
Corrections
Ranges are reviewed quarterly. Send corrections to support@airpixels.com with the metro and the quote you received.
Sources