We here at bestdronesforkids.org are dedicated to helping you find the very best drones for kids. As we ring in the new year we have updated this post for rising stars that have emerged.
There’s nothing more exciting than being able to give your kid what they want and see the joy on their face. However, it is worth it to spend time doing research to make sure that you get a drone that will be as much fun as it is safe.
If you are just starting to look for a drone, it can be intimidating with all the features to look out for and regulations and flying it.
In this review, we are going to try and give you some tips on purchasing a drone for your kid as well as some safety tips to keep everyone safe. Please make sure you abide by all the regulations when flying your drone.
If you want to skip the introduction, you can go straight to our review on the #1 drone for kids.
Drones can come with a wide range of features that will, of course, come with a cost. You can find some relatively inexpensive ones that are pretty basic and you can also spend a couple hundred dollars on them for advanced features.
Ultimately, it will be up to you to decide what features you are interested in when making your purchase.
Flying time is one of the most important features. Especially if you have a long battery charge time. You want to make sure that you get a good amount of flying time and before you have to charge it again.
Flight times can range from drone to drone from about 10 minutes to almost 30 minutes for some of the more expensive drones.
You may be able to find a great compromise that doesn’t have the longest flight time but also does not have a long battery charge time so you can get back out there quickly.
Most manufacturers will include an age recommendation for their drones for kids. The youngest of kids that get recommended are usually around five years old. As they get more advanced, the kids will need to be older, up to 14 years old.
These are important but it is also important to know your kid. If they perform above or below their age level you can also take this into account.
You also want to think about how long your kid will be interested in the drone. If you think it may be a while, you could always get one that is slightly advanced that they can grow into for a couple years.
The battery that is in your drone will need to be recharged frequently especially if you are doing a lot of flying. The amount of time it takes to recharge the battery ranges from about 30 minutes to a couple hours.
We definitely recommend you take this into consideration when looking for the best drones for kids. Comparing the cost and benefit of this time requirement with other features that you are looking for.
The batteries that don’t take as long to charge might not be as sophisticated drones as the batteries that take a while to charge.
If you have the money to spend, it would be worth your while to buy some extra batteries. That way your kid can continue enjoying the drone without constantly having to recharge them.
The size of the drone is important to consider as well. There are actually new regulations from the FAA that require any drone between .55 and 55 pounds to be registered.
Some of the drones on this list are under that weight limit and some are in the weight limit where you will need to register.
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The width and length of the drone is also important. Storage space can become an issue. You want to also be able to make sure that you can fly you’re drone with ease without running into standing objects.
The controller that comes with your kid’s drone will also play a big role and how much fun they have with it. Some controllers are a lot more advanced than others and some are pretty simple.
Some controllers can be super sensitive making them more difficult to fly.
Other controllers are more advanced and even switch the direction of the flying mode depending on which way the drone is facing.
For younger kids, you will probably want to look for a drone that has a shorter range just so that they have less of a chance of losing it or breaking it.
Older kids will probably want to fly their drones farther so you’ll need to look for one that has a decent amount of range to it.
As we mentioned, drones can have several features some other ones that you might want to consider are the following:
You may also see drones labeled as a UAS or unmanned aerial system. Because drones that are still a relatively new industry you may see them classified in several different ways.
Besides fun, safety is the next biggest concern when buying a drone for your kids. There is a great list of safety guidelines on this page here.
However, we will highlight a few of the more important rules when flying drones.
These are just a few of many rules that you should follow but when it comes down to it, just use common sense.
Be aware of your surroundings in any environmental conditions like the wind which could potentially destroy your drone. Try to stay away from standing objects like trees or buildings.
Finally, you want to check your state’s laws and regulations in regards to flying drones for kids to make sure there are no restrictions.
As drones become more and more popular there will be hundreds of choices to look at when buying a drone for your child.
There are certainly many more out there than what we recommend on this list. But after hours of research, these are the top drones that we typically recommend.
We have just updated this list for 2018 as there have been some new players making huge improvements in the toy drone market.
The Holy Stone HS100 is by far the best drone for kids. With a rating of 4.5 stars out of 5, rated by more than 3000 drone owners, this quadcopter combines quality with an affordable price tag.
This drone offers some great features which makes it a must-have for any drone lover, ranging from kids to teenagers. Some of those features include :
Last but not least, this drone has an Emergency stop feature, when you hold the takeoff/landing button for two seconds, an emergency stop will happen. This can help prevent injuries or crashes.
Camera
The HS100 comes with a 720P 120° Wifi camera. This camera allows kids and teenagers to make videos and take pictures. Don’t expect National Geographic quality pictures since the camera is rather basic, but it sure offers a great benefit to this drone.
Range
The flying range for the HS100 is around 1600 feet which give you enough time and distance to fly around. Besides that has the GPS feature the ability to track the drone on the display of the controller and it can bring the drone automatically back when it’s out of bounds.
Wifi
The wifi range is limited to roughly 500 feet
Flight time
Average flying times for the HS100 is between 12 and 15 minutes.
Charging
It takes between 3 and 6 hours to fully charge the HS100
Summary
The HS100 has been for years the best-selling drone for kids and teenagers and we’re still waiting for another drone that will be able to compete with the HS100. This one is a deserved winner in our list of best drones for kids.
The video below shows how easy it is to use the HS100 for kids.
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This quadcopter from Holy Stone is our number two recommendation as the best drone for kids. For all of the features that you get, it is a great price. It has almost 2,000 reviews and a 4.3-star rating on Amazon. Kids and parents alike will really enjoy this drone.
Holy Stone is a relatively new company founded in 2014. They specialize in high-quality toys for all age groups.
Their goal is to give you the best value for your money offering high-quality products at competitive prices. They also offer excellent customer service.
Return function
The main feature that we like is the key return and headless security system so that your child won’t lose this drone. It also has an altitude hold function that makes it easy for your kid to take pictures or videos.
Range
This drone has a range up to 500 feet.
Camera
The F181 t has a built-in HD camera. That being said it is recommended for 14-year-olds and up. The camera comes with a 2 megapixel 720P HD camera that will give you amazing photos and videos. However, you will have to buy your own SD card.
Flight time
It has a 7 to 9 Minute flight time with an 80-minute battery charge time but this package comes with 2 batteries so you can enjoy your drone longer. However, make sure to let the drone rest for 10 minutes in between flights.
It also weighs less than a half pound so you don’t need to register this with FAA.
Overall this is a great drone for the price you actually pay and your child is short of love it.
Summary
The F181 earned a #2 spot in our list of best drones for kids. It doesn’t match the HS100, but it still is a great drone.
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At number 3 in our list best drones for kids we find the HS160. The Holy Stone HS160 Shadow FPV RC Drone is a drone equipped with 720P HD Wi-Fi Camera that provides live video streaming that is powered by a 2.4GHz processor.
It has a foldable structure design, with a flexible but durable plastic aerofoil which makes it portable and durable.
With the WiFi FPV capabilities, this device can provide wonderful photos and videos via your smartphone and you can also bring it to travel as a ‘selfie drone’.
The Holy Stone HS160 Shadow FPV RC Drone features an altitude hold which lets you hover the drone by a simple push of a button.
There is also the headless mode functionality which provides control over the device even without seeing the direction of flight. It has a built-in barometer which helps a lot when hovering and during flight.
The Holy Stone HS160 Shadow FPV RC Drone is compatible with any VR headset when you use the 3D Mode in the App.
You’ll experience that ‘real-life flight’ and you will definitely love it! It has 4-speed modes from low to high which is suitable for all types of drone pilots, whether beginner, intermediate or expert.
Range
The HS160 has a range of 150 feet, which is considerably less than the HS100 and the F181.
Flying time
The flying time is limited to maximum 8 mins
Summary
The HS160 puts himself in 3rd spot in our list of best drones for kids. Due to it’s limited range and flying time, we put this one here in our list.
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At number 4 in our list of best drones for kids we can find the Drocon Scouter. The DROCON Scouter is a relatively new player in the drone market but is quickly becoming a top seller.
The stability of this drone is what seems to draw beginners or kids to want to fly this drone.
Drocon included many of the flight assistance technology that you see on more expensive models like:
The size of this drone also makes it super portable so you can take it with you almost anywhere. Just make sure you are flying it in proper areas!
You can even fly this drone at night because of the quality lights that are included with the kit.
It does not have the longest flight time but you can easily make up for this with extra batteries.
You can charge the battery inside the drone or when it is out with a standard USB cable. Just make sure you give it enough time to cool down before charging after use.
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At number 5 in our best drones for kids list, we can find the Tenergy TDR Phoenix. The TDR Phoenix WiFi FPV Modular Quadcopter is a medium-sized drone with a design that allows interchangeable parts based on the user’s preference.
There’s a built-in 0.3MP FPV camera that captures real-time videos and photos and transmits it wirelessly to your smartphone.
It comes with a collision avoidance mode, that can detect objects and obstacles even during flight – which reduces the chances of getting a collision.
The Phoenix has an advanced controller with a holder specifically built for any smartphones and as well as having that ergonomic design with an easy to use one key command to help and assist beginner drone pilots.
The TDR Phoenix WiFi FPV Modular Quadcopter is very easy and fun to use. It has an auto launch and returns mode as well as the headless mode and speed selection.
This drone is packed with the latest flight technologies that help and assists beginners to fly their drones like a pro in no time.
This drone is equipped with a 6-axis gyro system and a new feature like collision avoidance enables the drone to be flown safely without any crash.
Lastly, it features a new hard case battery design that removes the exposed wires for a more durable and long-lasting battery. perfect fit for this small drone.
Lastly, it has a new hard case battery design features that remove any exposed wires resulting in a more durable and longer-lasting battery life. Perfect fit for one of the best drones for kids.
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This moderately priced drone from DBPower is the best seller on Amazon right now. It currently has a 4.3-star rating with almost 800 reviews.
While it doesn’t have the security feature it does allow the headless driving mode. It doesn’t matter which direction your drone is facing, forward is forward and backward as backward.
The controller has a really cool phone clip so you can hook your phone up and see a real-time video that your drone is shooting.
This quadcopter has about a 10-minute flight time and 100m range with a two-hour battery charge time. The recommended age for the manufacturers of 12 to 14 years old.
The weight is also under a half pound so no registration is required for this drone.
Just like with all these drones, you will see some complaints about new users losing the drone. Again you can see the company responding and taking care of their customers.
With any products on Amazon, you can expect a few lemons to go out.
However, most of the verified purchase reviews are from happy customers the enjoy the one key return button as well as a durability of the drone in case you crash it a few times.
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If you are looking for something a little less expensive the Holy Stone HS170 could be a great choice. It doesn’t have as long as flight time or range but also has a shorter battery charge time.
It has many of the same features as the previous two drones including the ability to do a 3D flip in the air.
This drone is recommended for 14-year-olds but does have the headless driving mode. Beginners will have no problems flying this one. You will also see some reviews where parents got this for kids as young as six years old.
Holy Stone is the only authorized seller on Amazon selling their product so be careful if you see other sellers promoting this product as it will be fake.
When you assemble this drone make sure that you install the blades on the correct spots because some are meant for the front and some are for the rear. This could cause flying defects.
In fact, you will see a few complaints about this. Most of the other complaints are simply people that feel like the product was cheap.
However, this is a very popular drone and if you make sure to take the time and read the manual and learn how to use it you and your child will be completely satisfied.
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Another great quadcopter on Amazon is the Syma X5A-1 with a 4.4-star rating and about 75 reviews.
If you are looking for durability this drone has blade protectors round each propeller. This can help when you are learning and you have some collisions and falls.
It has about a seven-minute flight time and almost a two-hour charging time. And just like many of the others the ability to do a 360-degree role in the air.
This drone is a little heavier but maybe a little more adorable than the others, however, you will have to register as it is over the half pound weight limit.
Many of the reviews mention how fun and easy this drone is to fly. This could be a great first drone, especially for beginners. It won’t be too complicated for your child to get the hang of it pretty quickly.
Most of the complaints are just like the others where people are just not happy with the product or receive the defective product which is typical and not very helpful.
It also seems like people have the wrong impression about the battery life and feel like it is too short but remember it is only about a seven-minute lifespan.
Overall, this could be another great choice for your child for their first drone.
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If you are looking for a cheap drone for a younger kid, this Eachine E010 be a great choice. It is very basic and relatively inexpensive compared to the other drones.
However, it can still provide tons of fun for your little one and could be a great beginner drone. Despite looking simple, it still surprisingly has many features that some of the more expensive models have.
Including a one key return button, a 360-degree rollover and the compass mode. This allows you to fly in the same direction no matter which way the drone is facing.
It has about a five-minute flight time and a 30 to 50-minute battery charge time but some reviewers have found that the flight time lasts a little longer and the charge time is a little quicker.
It seems that people are just really impressed with the performance of this small drone for the price that you have to pay.
There are some complaints about the controller losing its connection ability with the drone on a few of these. However, just remember this is a cheap drone so it probably won’t last as long as some of the others.
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This moderately priced drone from Cheerwing as many of the great functions this in the more expensive models for about half the price.
With only a slightly lower rating at 3.8 stars and over 500 reviews, this is could still be a great choice for your kid’s first drone.
It even has an HD camera and a phone grip on the controller so you can see live videos and photos while you’re flying! It also has all of the safety and flying features as most of the other ones.
The drone has about a seven-minute flight time with a distance of 50m and it is also under the weight limit for registration. However, charging the battery could take up to 2 hours.
This drone is very durable and can take a beating. This makes it a great choice for a first drone. One thing that you might consider, is practicing for a good amount of time inside before you take it outside in see what it can do. Check our detailed review here.
Most of the complaints come from people who just feel like this is a cheap drone. Or it seems that some of them may not have read the instructions before taking it out on its first flight.
If you are going to spend the money on one of these drones please take the time to learn how to use it!
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Another great drone from cheerwing is the CW4. It is about the same price but it comes with a better camera, however, there is no feature for live viewing of your pictures or video.
So, a little bit of a trade-off there. You will have to decide what is more important, the quality of the image or being able to see it while you’re flying.
It has many great features including one-touch takeoff and returns, headless mode and 360-degree roll. It also comes with 2 batteries so you get double the flight time when you are out in the field.
When you combine all of the features when the propeller protectors, this drone is very adorable even if you have a few crash landings.
You will even see a few people who lost contact with the remote and ended up losing their drones. However, customer support contacted them replaced the drone no questions asked.
In fact, this seems to be the main complaint so please make sure you take the time to read the instructions that you properly connect your controller to the Drone before using it.
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There are several manufacturers of this model drone but Holy Stone seems to have the highest ratings in the best camera.
You will get all the great features that help beginners fly drones as well as to batteries when you buy this one. Including features that help prevent the phone from flying away on its own. Full review on the U818A.
The camera records in 720p which will provide some excellent footage.
This is recommended for older kids, however, it is only 5 oz. so you will not have to register it with the FAA. This one has a 9 minute flight time but also a two-hour charge time. However, it also has a low battery alarm which could come in handy.
There are many reviews that mention how great this drone is for beginners and even some of the older kids had fun flying it.
Most of the complaints are similar to all the rest on this list and none that really stick out.
It really comes down to knowing how to use the product and taking your time with it. If you can do that then you should be happy with almost any of these drones.
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The HS200 from Holy Stone is another great option that gives you a 720p video footage in real time. As you can see, Holy Stone has quite a few models on this list and are one of the better manufacturers.
Besides the main safety features, this also has an altitude hold that makes flying it easier for beginners. It also has four different speeds and you can even download an app on your smartphone to take advantage of more features.
It has about a nine-minute flight time in one hour charge time and you can even charge the battery without taking it out of the drone. However, it only comes with one so you may want to buy a backup or two.
The drone emits its own Wi-Fi signal so that you can pair with your phone and see the footage as you are flying. Read the full review on the HS200.
Some of the complaints on this one mentioned that it is not as durable as some of the Lesser expensive models. Experienced users will like this more.
Most of the complaints are the typical ones you see for the rest of these drones.
Overall, this is a great drone for an experienced user or an older child.
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This drone from Hubsan could be another great one for the younger kids or an entry-level drone. It is popular with a 3.8-star rating and over 1,700 reviews.
It includes many great features for its price and even a small camera but you will have to buy your own SD card.
This drone is one of the easier ones to fly with its stability feature and simplified controls. This is also one of the only drones on this list that doesn’t require construction when you buy it. Read the full review on this drone here.
Some of the happiest customers are the ones that really took the time to learn how to fly it before letting it rip open in a wide-open field.
They also mentioned the value of this drone and its precise flying.
As you can guess, most of the complaints are the typical did not work or cheap drone and stuff like that. None of them are very helpful.
All this could be a great first drone to practice on before buying one of the more expensive drones.
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Last but not least, our last contender in our list of best drone for kids. Finally, we have the Qcopter Green Drone which has over 700 reviews and a 4.1-star rating.
This one actually has the longest flight time on this list with 15 minutes. It also comes with a second battery so in one trip you can have 30 minutes till the flight time.
No registration is required for this drone. The design makes it easier for beginners to fly.
The lights are really cool. It lights up for bright at night and can also do the 360-degree flips like some of the others.
The manufacturer recommends this drone for 12-year-olds but slightly younger kids could probably use it as well.
Again, the complaints are typical, for people who probably didn’t take the time to learn how to use it before it’s real test flight. It is important to thoroughly read the manual. You can see how it works by watching videos online.
Other than that, most customers really seem to enjoy the drone. They also had great experiences with customer service. This could be another great choice for your kid’s first drone.
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We hope you enjoyed our list of best drones for kids. Hopefully, you now have a better understanding of what to look for when buying a drone for your kid. Which one will be best for your kid will depend on their age, their wants, and needs.
Please read instruction manuals and learn how to use your drone before taking it out in a field. You can potentially lose it like so many of the negative reviewers talk about.
You would be wise to practice inside your home before taking it outside.
Some other things to keep in mind is that you will probably have to replace the propellers and motors at some point. So just know that that is part of the maintenance.
Buying additional batteries as well can really toy up the enjoyment for your child when flying these best drones for kids.