How a drone appraisal works
A drone appraisal is an estimate of what a specific drone would sell for today, built from evidence rather than the asking price the owner has in mind. There are three ways to get one, and they answer slightly different questions.
Comparable listings (what this page does)
The same method a camera-store buyer uses to price a trade: find the same model and kit that is for sale or recently sold, adjust for battery count and health, accessories, flight history and condition, and land on a range. Our estimator runs that comparison against the live inventory on this site plus a web search for the same drone elsewhere, so the range moves with the market instead of with last year's retail price.
Retail price and trade-in tables
Big-box and camera retailers publish trade-in values that are built for their margin and drop the day a new generation ships. They are a floor, not a value: the same drone sells privately for more, and a discontinued model with a loyal following can hold its price longer than the table says.
Professional inspection and written valuation
A repair shop or authorised service centre checks the airframe, gimbal, motors, battery cycle counts and firmware, and a written valuation states a value. A formal written appraisal is what insurers, business-asset ledgers, courts and the IRS accept. An online estimate is where you start; the inspection is what closes a claim or a sale to a commercial operator.
What to have ready
Make and model are enough for a first number. Each item below narrows the range, and all of them are what an inspector or buyer will ask for anyway.
- Model and serial number
- On the aircraft body and in the app. It confirms the exact generation and variant (standard, Pro, Cine, Enterprise), which is what every comparable is matched on.
- Batteries: count, cycles and health
- Batteries are the most valuable consumable in the kit. The cycle count and health percentage from the app for each one; a kit with three healthy batteries is a different product from a bare aircraft.
- Flight hours and crash history
- Total flight time from the app, plus any crashes, water landings or gimbal replacements. Repaired is fine; undisclosed is not.
- Condition, honestly graded
- Gimbal play, propeller-motor smoothness, sensor and lens marks, stress cracks around the arms, and whether the aircraft has ever flown in salt air. Cosmetic wear costs a little; a wobbly gimbal costs a lot.
- Controller, charger and accessories
- The remote (screen or phone-mount), charging hub, ND filters, spare props, case and any care plan. Each moves the number when it works and the buyer wanted it.
- Registration and account status
- Whether the aircraft is unbound from the previous account, whether any remote-ID or care-plan coverage transfers, and for commercial units whether the enterprise licences go with it.
Where appraisals land by brand, 2026
The live comparables behind the estimator. For each brand with at least five priced drones listed on US Drone Connection right now: how many are for sale, the median asking price, and the spread from the cheapest older example to the newest and best equipped. Refreshed hourly.
| Brand | Listed | Low | Median asking | High |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DJI | 454 | $122 | $729 | $22,999 |
| SwellPro | 7 | $987 | $1,099 | $3,487 |
| Autel Robotics | 5 | $899 | $2,069 | $211,300 |
| Potensic | 5 | $179 | $270 | $320 |
Asking prices, not sale prices. A private sale of an ordinary example usually closes below the median; a current-generation kit with extra batteries with records sits above it. Brand pages on the site break each of these down by model.
When an online estimate is not enough
The range on this page is what you need to price a listing, judge an offer or decide whether to trade in. Four situations call for a written appraisal from a qualified inspector or accredited appraiser.
- Insurance. Scheduled equipment policies and any claim after a crash, theft or flyaway usually require a written valuation; the payout is capped at that figure.
- Business assets and taxes. A commercial operator writing a drone into a company's books, or writing it off, needs a documented value an accountant can stand behind.
- Donation to a charity. A written appraisal by a qualified appraiser is required for a tax deduction above $5,000, and the drone's fair market value is what you can claim.
- Estates, divorce and disputes. A neutral written value stands up where an online range or a retailer's trade-in offer will not.
Frequently asked questions
Is the drone appraisal really free?
Yes. Enter the drone and you get the range on the page, no account and no card. US Drone Connection earns from optional listing boosts and dealer subscriptions, not from appraisals.
How accurate is an online drone appraisal?
For a current or last-generation consumer drone with a normal kit and honest condition, the range is usually within about ten percent of where it sells privately. It is least reliable for enterprise and cinema rigs, heavily modified or FPV builds, and anything that has been crashed and repaired, where an inspection matters more than the comparables.
What is the difference between a drone appraisal and an inspection?
An appraisal answers what the drone is worth; an inspection answers what condition it is in, and a service centre's report usually includes a value. Online appraisals and retailer trade-in quotes are free and fast; an inspection is an in-person check you pay for and the only one an insurer or a commercial buyer accepts.
Do dealers and private sellers get the same number?
The estimator returns a private-sale range. Dealers list higher because their price includes a check-over, a warranty and a trade-in margin. If you are trading in, expect an offer 20 to 40 percent under the private range.
Does the appraisal include batteries and accessories?
Tell the estimator what is included. Extra healthy batteries add real money; a fly-more style bundle with charging hub and case usually sells for more than the aircraft alone plus the parts.
How fast do drones lose value?
Fastest in the months after the next generation ships, then the curve flattens. A well-kept last-generation kit holds a surprising share of its price because the buyer wants the capability, not the badge. The value guide on this site measures it live by age.
Got your number?
Read how much is my drone worth? for the factors that move a value and 2026 figures by brand and age, then our guide to selling your drone — pricing, photos and what buyers look for — or list it free and put it in front of buyers nationwide.