Real estate drone photography pricing: what aerial photos and video cost in 2026

Typical drone prices at a glance

PropPhoto, a US marketplace where photographers publish their prices, computes typical prices from packages that contain exactly one service. Its page was last updated October 28, 2026, from 992 packages by 488 photographers:

Drone video and "aerial photography" rest on only five and six packages, so treat them as a guide, not a quote. PropPhoto adds that drone shots are usually cheaper when added to a regular photo package than when booked alone.

Fash, a directory of local service providers, gives national averages in its cost guide (written March 22, 2023, so older but more detailed):

Drone photos vs drone video

Video costs more because the pilot flies planned moves (an approach, an orbit, a pull-away) and someone has to edit and color the footage. The published prices show the gap:

• PropPhoto: drone photography $150, drone video $250 (typical standalone prices).
• Fash: drone photos only $100–$300, drone video only $200–$450.
• HomeJab (a national listing-media company, July 2025): 10 HDR aerial photos from $249, or 15 aerial photos plus a 2-minute aerial video from $499.
• Lighthouse Visuals (Greenville, North Carolina): exterior drone photos, 10–15 images, $99; a 60-second aerial-only video with 15 drone photos included, $185.

If you only need one product, aerial photos cover most listings: a few high shots go into the MLS gallery, and a top-down shot shows the lot. Drone video earns its price when the setting is the selling point, such as waterfront, acreage or a view. For ground-level video costs, see real estate videos.

Add-on or standalone: the biggest price difference

The same aerials cost less when the photographer is already at the house for the interior shoot. Three price lists read on October 29, 2026:

Fash's averages point the same way: $50–$100 as an add-on against $100–$300 on its own. If a listing will need aerials, book them with the photos rather than as a second visit.

Pricing by home size and acreage

Most photographers price drone work by the home's square footage for houses and by the acre for land. PhotoUp's drone pricing guide (March 7, 2025) gives these averages by size:

PhotoUp also lists per-square-foot pricing at $0.10 to $0.25 as one of the common models. For land, Davey Morgan Photography in Greenville, South Carolina charges $10 an acre with a 30-acre ($300) minimum for farm and land, against a flat $250 for a residential listing. Large or unusual properties are often quoted one by one, so ask for a written quote before the shoot.

Drone add-on prices by state

PhotoUp publishes average aerial add-on prices for 10 states, citing RubyHome (article dated January 22, 2025). They follow home prices and the cost of living:

For your own state, PropPhoto's pricing page lists typical package prices by state and links to photographers who publish their prices there.

What the price should include

Before you compare quotes, ask each pilot what you get for the money. The lists above show what's normal:

• Number of images. 5–15 aerial images is the usual range for a drone photo package (Fash); Lighthouse Visuals delivers 10–15.
• Video length and cuts. 30 seconds to 2 minutes for a small package, 1 to 3 minutes for a large one (Fash). Ask whether you get an unbranded version for the MLS.
• Editing. Color correction and straightening should be included. Fash puts extra drone editing at $70 to $180 an hour.
• Licensing and insurance. The pilot should hold an FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate and carry liability insurance; Fash says professional drone photographers spend $450 to $750 or more a year on it.
• Airspace. Near an airport the flight may need FAA authorization first. NV Photo Solutions says any property within 5 miles of an airport needs air traffic control clearance and, although rare, it can take up to 90 days. Ask before you set the listing date.
• Extras. Travel outside the pilot's area, weather rescheduling and rush delivery are often billed on top; Fash puts rush fees at $25 to $100 or more.

What it costs the pilot: Part 107 and the gear

Part of every drone price is the license. Anyone flying a drone to sell a property needs an FAA Remote Pilot Certificate under Part 107, even an agent flying their own listing. The pilot's own costs:

The full rules (age 16 and up, the knowledge test, Remote ID, height limits, flying over people, and indoor flights) are in our drone real estate photography guide. If you plan to fly your own listings, the test fee is small next to the time it takes to learn the airspace rules and to fly safely near houses and people.

Is drone photography worth the price?

For a house on a big lot, acreage, waterfront or a home where the neighborhood sells it, $100 to $250 for aerials is a small part of the marketing budget. For a condo or a townhouse on a narrow lot, the same money usually does more on the interior photos. Our drone guide lists which aerial shots to ask for, and our real estate photography cost guide puts drone prices next to photos, video, twilight and 3D tours.

Drone outside, October inside

October doesn't fly drones. It makes the interior listing photos and an optional walkthrough video from one guided walk with an iPhone: $49 a place for photos, $99 with the walkthrough video, and your first place is free. Results are usually ready within a few hours. For a listing that needs aerials, book a Part 107 pilot for the exterior and use October for the rooms. See pricing.

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