Drone Flight Time Calculator
Calculate estimated flight time for a drone based on battery capacity, voltage, and average current draw. Account for safety margins.
Reserve capacity (typically 20-30%)
How to Use This Calculator
- Enter the battery capacity in mAh (found on the battery label).
- Enter the battery voltage in volts (e.g., 11.1V for 3S LiPo, 14.8V for 4S).
- Enter the average current draw in amperes (from flight logs or estimates).
- Set the safety margin percentage (typically 20-30% for LiPo batteries).
- The calculator displays the estimated flight time in hours, minutes, and seconds.
Flight Time Formula
Flight time is calculated from battery capacity, current, and safety margin:
Flight Time (minutes) = (Usable Capacity / Current in A × 1000) × 60
Example: 5000mAh battery, 15A average current, 20% safety margin: Usable = 5000 × 0.8 = 4000mAh. Flight time = (4000 / 15000) × 60 = 16 minutes.
Full Description
Calculating drone flight time helps you plan flights, select appropriate batteries, and understand power consumption. Flight time depends on battery capacity, average current draw, and safety margins. Understanding these factors helps you maximize flight time while protecting your batteries from over-discharge.
Battery capacity determines how much energy is available, while current draw determines how fast that energy is consumed. Average current varies greatly with flight style—hovering uses less power, while aggressive maneuvers use more. Safety margins are essential for LiPo batteries, as over-discharging can permanently damage cells. A 20-30% margin ensures you land before reaching dangerous voltage levels.
This calculator helps you estimate flight time. Enter battery capacity, voltage, average current, and safety margin, and it calculates the expected flight duration. Use it when selecting batteries, planning flights, or understanding power consumption. Remember that actual flight time varies with flight style, wind conditions, battery age, and temperature. Always test in real conditions and monitor battery voltage during flight.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I calculate drone flight time?
Flight time = (Battery capacity in mAh / Average current draw in A × 1000) × (1 - Safety margin / 100) × 60 minutes. For example, 5000mAh battery, 15A average, 20% margin: Time = (5000 / 15000) × 0.8 × 60 = 16 minutes.
What is a safety margin?
Safety margin is the percentage of battery capacity reserved to prevent over-discharge, which damages batteries. Typical margins: 20-30% for LiPo batteries. This ensures you land before the battery reaches dangerous low voltage levels.
How do I find average current draw?
Average current depends on flight style: Hovering uses less (30-50% of max), aggressive flying uses more (70-90% of max). Check your flight controller logs, use a current sensor, or estimate: Average ≈ Max current × 0.6 for normal flight.
Why is actual flight time shorter than calculated?
Actual flight time is often shorter due to: battery aging, temperature effects, voltage sag under load, aggressive flying, wind resistance, and battery internal resistance. Use conservative estimates and test in real conditions.