Estimate battery life for your UAV or FPV
Theoretical calculation. Wind, payload, temperature, and aggressive flying will reduce actual flight time.
Whether you are flying a cinematic camera drone, a custom-built FPV quadcopter, or an industrial UAV, knowing your expected flight time is critical. Nothing is worse than pushing your drone to the limit only to have the battery completely drain mid-air. Our Drone Flight Time Calculator helps you estimate how long your craft will stay airborne based on its battery capacity and the average current (Amps) it draws while hovering or cruising.
The math behind this calculator relies on two primary specifications. First is your Battery Capacity (mAh), which dictates how much "fuel" is in your tank. A 5000mAh battery holds 5 Amp-hours of energy. Second is your Average Amp Draw (A). This represents how much energy your motors and electronics consume to keep the drone in the air. By dividing your battery capacity (converted to Amps) by your drone's current draw, and multiplying by 60, we get the total theoretical flight minutes.
If you fly until your battery hits 0%, you will likely permanently damage your LiPo (Lithium Polymer) battery, and your drone might drop from the sky. This is why experienced pilots adhere to the 80% Rule. You should always aim to land when your battery has depleted 80% of its capacity, leaving 20% as a safety buffer. Our calculator automatically provides this "Safe Flight" duration alongside the theoretical maximum, ensuring you have enough time to return to home (RTH) and land safely, even if you encounter unexpected headwinds.