Drone Depreciation: How Fast Do Drones Lose Value? (Live Prices by Model Year)
Drones don't depreciate on a smooth curve — they step down every time a manufacturer launches a successor. Here is what the live listings show by model year, and how to use it.
By Joey Bouza, Founder, US Drone Connection · Updated August 29, 2026
Ask what a drone is worth after three years and the honest answer is: which three years? A model launched the year before its successor loses more in its first twelve months than one launched the year after a refresh. The useful way to look at drone depreciation is by model year and by generation, which is what the live table below does. Every number in it is a median asking price from listings currently on this site, grouped by the year the aircraft was built.
Used drone value by model year — live
| Model year | Median asking | Listings |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | $1,459 | 5 |
| 2018 | $604 | 34 |
| 2019 | $209 | 11 |
| 2020 | $364 | 45 |
| 2021 | $856 | 28 |
| 2022 | $709 | 18 |
| 2023 | $919 | 19 |
| 2024 | $154 | 13 |
Two cautions when reading it. First, the years mix categories: a year with several enterprise or cinema listings will show a higher median than a year full of minis, so compare like with like using the type table on the value guide. Second, years appear only once they have at least five priced listings, so the newest model years may be missing until inventory builds.
Why drones depreciate in steps, not slopes
- Successor launches. The day a Mini 5 or Mavic 4 is announced, every listing for the previous generation is repriced by buyers — whether or not the seller has noticed.
- Sensor and transmission generations. The jump from a 1/2.3-inch sensor to 1-inch, or from an older video link to a newer one, is what buyers pay for. Aircraft on the wrong side of that line drop together.
- Firmware and app support. When a manufacturer stops updating an aircraft, it stops being a current tool and becomes a hobby purchase. Prices reflect that.
- Regulatory changes. The Remote ID rule pushed value away from older aircraft that need an add-on module and toward those with it built in. Buyers of enterprise drones for public agencies increasingly need NDAA-compliant aircraft, which shifts demand between brands.
- Battery ageing. Even a drone that never flies loses value as its batteries age in the case. A kit's battery health is priced in at every sale.
Rules of thumb (labelled as such)
These are patterns sellers and dealers describe, not percentages measured on this site — use the live table for the measured numbers. First: the steepest fall is between new and first resale, because the buyer of a used drone will not pay for the unboxing. Second: the flattest stretch is the middle of a model's life, after the first drop and before its successor. Third: a model becomes nearly worthless to the used market only when firmware support ends and parts dry up, not when it stops being the newest — a well-kept older aircraft with spares still sells.
Timing a sale
- Sell before the successor, not after. Manufacturers' launch cycles are public; if you are already thinking about selling, do it before the announcement rather than into the flood of listings after it.
- Sell with fresh batteries or price without them. A buyer who has to replace a set of batteries subtracts that cost from your asking price — and a bit more for the trouble.
- Sell complete. Combos, screen remotes, filter sets and cases all recover more of their cost in a bundle than they do listed separately.
- Sell with proof. A flight-record screenshot, battery cycle counts and the original box and invoice remove the doubt that buyers price in as a discount.
The value guide breaks the same live data down by brand and type, and the free appraisal applies it to your exact model, batteries and condition.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a drone depreciate in the first year?
- It depends on where the model is in its life cycle, so we do not publish a single percentage. Compare the live median for the model year against the launch price of the model you own for a measured answer.
- Do DJI drones hold value better than other brands?
- The depth of the used DJI market means they are easier to sell and easier to price. Whether they hold a higher share of their launch price than a given competitor varies by model; check the live brand table.
- Does a drone lose value if it sits unused?
- Yes. Its generation ages regardless, and its batteries age in the case. A low-hours aircraft is worth more than a high-hours one of the same year, but not as much as an unused one of the current generation.
- Is an older enterprise drone still valuable?
- Often more than a consumer drone of the same age, because the payloads (thermal, zoom, RTK) retain their usefulness. Agency buyers may need NDAA-compliant aircraft, which affects demand for some brands.
- When is the best month to sell a drone?
- The best time is before your model's successor is announced. Season matters less than the launch calendar.
- Should I upgrade every generation?
- Financially, no: skipping a generation halves the number of first-year drops you absorb. Upgrade when a specific feature earns its cost.
- Why is a year missing from the table?
- A model year appears only once at least five priced listings carry it. It will fill in as inventory builds.
- How is the median calculated?
- From the asking prices of approved, priced listings currently live on the site with that model year, recalculated hourly. It is an asking-price median, not a sold-price median.
About the author
Joey Bouza — Founder, US Drone Connection
Working musician and founder of Prospects International, a marketing firm that runs lead and appointment campaigns for dealers across the country.
Prices and counts in our guides come from live listings on this site and are recalculated hourly. Where we quote industry-typical figures (repair, battery, gimbal and Remote ID module quotes) we say so, and we never publish a number we haven't measured or sourced.