The drone industry is booming! There was a 24% increase in sales of drones between 2021 and 2022.
With such a rapidly growing market, it’s no surprise that drones have become increasingly popular among kids!
As a drone enthusiast who’s been flying these incredible gadgets since they first soared into popularity, I’ve gained extensive knowledge and hands-on experience (through many crashes).
I’ve helped countless parents and kids find the perfect drone, and now, I’m here to help you. Trust me, your little ones are in for some unforgettable aerial excitement with my carefully curated list of the top 10 drones for kids.
- 1. DJI Mini SE
- 2. Ryze Tech Tello
- 3. Holy Stone Mini Drone
- 4. AirSelfie AIR NEO
- 5. Exo Scout
- 6. Potensic A20 (Upgraded)
- 7. Derc D20
- 8. Dwi Dowellin
- 9. Thames & Kosmos Robotics Kit
- 10. Force1 UFO 4000
- Which drones to choose for kids?
- Mini drones
- Camera Drones
- Racing Drones
- Long Range Drones
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Conclusion
Best Overall 
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Best for Learning 
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Best Budget 
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$169.99
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Pros:
| Pros:
| Pros:
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- Safety: 4/5
- Ease of Use: 4.5/5
- Flight Time: 23 min
- Age Range: 8+
- Durability: 4/5
- Safety: 4/5
- Ease of Use: 5/5
- Flight Time:13 min
- Age Range: 8+
- Durability: 3/5
- Safety: 4.5/5
- Ease of Use: 4/5
- Flight Time: 21 min (3 x 7 min)
- Age Range: 8+
- Durability:4/5
1. Holy Stone – HS175D
The Holy Stone HS175D drone is exceptional at practically everything you need out of a drone.
This drone offers the best flight performance, a 4K camera, and GPS-assisted flight, which makes bringing your drone back home much more straightforward.
This quiet drone allows camera control to point straight or down, and with its GPS altitude feature, it remains stable in the air. The single-key takeoff and landing button is a neat addition.
The Holy Stone HS175D drone has features that deserve more attention than they usually receive. With its ability to fly in circles and follow you hands-free, this drone excels at everything you need it to do.
The quiet HS175D is easy to fly, even for kids. It can maintain its position in midair, thanks to the GPS altitude feature, making the flying experience simpler. A standout feature is the single-key takeoff and landing button, conveniently located on the remote control.
The Holy Stone also boasts several additional features. It can follow you, capture pictures when you strike a pose, and its foldable design makes setup a breeze. The drone’s flight time is in line with industry standards, ensuring a satisfactory experience.
Furthermore, the optical flow feature helps the drone determine distances more accurately, making it a safe and reliable option for family use. This drone is an excellent addition to your home and will perform all tasks to the highest standard.
When testing it out, I of course crashed it (totally planned) and broke the blades. I’ve never had this happen on higher-end drones. So that is something to keep in mind when having your kids fly this drone. Luckily you’ll find a spare set of propellers in the box just for this reason.
2. Ryze Tech Tello
The Tello Boost is a small, easy-to-use drone made by Ryze Robotics using DJI flight technology.
It's safe, with features like failsafe protection and low battery protection, and it has a visual positioning system for precise hovering.
It's compatible with mobile VR headsets and has a 13-minute flight time. The Tello App simplifies the flight process and offers a fun Bounce Mode. It's a good value for beginners who want to learn how to fly.
The Ryze Tech Tello strikes the perfect balance between safety, affordability, and educational benefits. Its robust frame and propeller guards ensure a secure flying experience, while the intuitive app assists young pilots in navigating the drone with ease.
Offering exceptional value, the Tello is equipped with a fair-quality camera capable of capturing 720P video footage.
The kit contains everything required for flight, and its compatibility with Scratch, an engaging programming platform, makes it a hit among kids with a passion for STEM.
Young pilots can impress their friends with flips, tricks, and special functions, as well as edit their videos and photos using the app.
The Tello app not only enables drone control via a smartphone but also features entertaining games that teach valuable programming skills.
Do keep an eye on the battery life, though. While its 13-minute duration is among the longest in the mini-drone category, time will pass quickly when you’re having fun.
3. Holy Stone Mini Drone
Holy Stone drones are great for tricks. This one does flips, circles, and other tricks in midair.
If you have siblings, it comes in three different colors, so you can always tell whose drone is whose.
Propellers are protected by guards to prevent injuries and drone damage. Enjoy fun-filled flights without any tears!
The Holy Stone Mini Drone offers excellent value for money, boasting features such as one-tap stopping and landing, stable altitude hold, and protected propellers, ensuring a safe flying experience for both children and pets.
However, due to its somewhat fragile construction, the drone may be prone to damage from beginner mistakes. It didn’t survive my testing, so I recommend being patient, reading the manual thoroughly, and avoiding high-speed collisions with walls.
While it lacks a camera, the drone can perform entertaining tricks like toss-to-launch, circle fly, 3D flips, and auto-rotation, making it a hit with kids. Additionally, its speed can be adjusted to accommodate different skill levels.
Other safety features include a low battery power alarm, which helps prevent loss or damage due to insufficient power.
The propellers are shielded by guards that not only protect children from spinning blades but also safeguard the drone from harm, ensuring no tears are shed by young pilots.
4. AirSelfie AIR NEO
This is probably the most compact and most durable drone out there. Its intuitive controls allow anyone to become a master pilot almost instantly.
Designed for instant mastery with its intuitive controls. This selfie stick on steroids is perfect for capturing photos, group selfies, and 360-degree videos on-the-go.
Equipped with AI technology, it tracks movement, recognizes faces, and automatically adjusts zoom and angles for the perfect shot before returning to you.
5. Exo Scout
EXO Scout can fly in a 315ft range, making it a rather useful drone for both kids and beginners.
It comes with two batteries, supporting it to fly up to 18 minutes per battery which is considered a roughly short time. It also takes an hour for a battery to be fully recharged.
The EXO Scout's user-friendly features, make it an excellent option for beginners looking for a high-quality and easy-to-fly drone.
6. Potensic A20 (Upgraded)
The Potensic A20 is a great nano drone for beginners.
Flying this nano drone is hassle-free because you don't have to bother about which way it is facing in headless mode.
Three drone batteries are included with this tiny drone, which has a fantastic flight time of about 15 minutes. It makes the duration of your flight more enjoyable and remarkable.
7. Deerc D20
The D20 drone comes with a 720P HD Wi-Fi camera for aerial photos and videos.
Designed as a kids' toy, it has simple one-key start/landing and altitude hold features, making it easy to control.
Safety-wise, the drone has low power alarms, emergency stop, and 4 propeller guards. Its two rechargeable batteries provide up to 20 minutes of flight time.
The drone can perform 3D flips and follow drawn flight courses on your smartphone for added fun. Voice control and gesture selfies are available, but their responsiveness may vary.
8. Dwi Dowellin
Its bright lights and multiple colors make it one of the best for kids.
It’s well-protected, so kids can handle it without any worries.
It’s also small enough to slide under slightly-lifted furniture like benches, making it a ton of fun!
9. Thames & Kosmos Robotics Kit
The Thames & Kosmos Robotics drone kit is an engaging and educational experience that allows users to build a flying camera drone and four other camera-enabled robotic models.
Controlled via an iOS or Android app, the drone features a built-in HD camera for live-streaming, video recording, and 4K picture-taking.
The package includes a durable storage case, over 100 reusable plastic building pieces, and four additional models, providing a hands-on approach to learning robotics and engineering.
10. Force1 UFO 4000
Once you get it in the air, it does all kinds of neat tricks, including flips and circles.
The drone has exciting neon red and blue LED lights that show up brilliantly in the dark
Understanding that kids may accidentally break things this drone comes with spare parts to address this issue
Which drones to choose for kids?
There’s a wide range of drones available, each designed for a specific use.
The list above gives you an idea of the different types you can come across.
While all of them have the ability to fly, they cater to diverse needs.
Some drones are created for educational purposes, helping people learn about technology and aviation.
Others are meant for entertainment, offering exciting flying experiences or engaging in drone races.
There are also drones designed for photography and videography, capable of capturing stunning images, videos, or even selfies from unique perspectives.
In the following section, I’ve elaborated on the most popular drone categories, providing a better understanding of their features and uses.
Mini drones
Mini drones are perfect for younger kids! They come in a small size so they can fly around indoors without crashing into things (as easily).
Plus, the smaller sizes make them super easy to learn how to control.
I mean, you don’t have to worry about crashing something huge or expensive when you’re just learning! The controls are intuitive, which makes it easier to get used to flying one of these little guys right away.
The best part is that mini drones often come with extra features like lights and games built into the controller.
That way, your kid won’t be bored while they practice their skills and see what kind of tricks they can do with their drone. They also often feature propeller guards for extra safety. Along with their low price, they’re the best choice for beginners who will crash often.
So if you’re looking for an entertaining gift for your kid that’s both educational and fun, then a mini drone might be a perfect choice.
Camera Drones
Drone photography can capture amazing images from angles you wouldn’t normally get to see.
Plus, drone video recording can capture smooth, high-quality footage no matter if you’re flying low or high.
These types of drones are the most popular nowadays – and are becoming better as the days go by. The best part is that many models also feature automatic recording settings which make them fun for both adults and children alike.
Some even come equipped with special features such as automatic follow modes and presets that allow your child to record videos while they focus on having fun.
Drone Photography
With aerial photography and video editing capabilities, your kid can take stunning shots from above. For example, they could capture a beautiful sunset or fly over an area to get unique perspectives on their surroundings.
They can also edit videos with special effects and music to show off to family and friends – there’s no limit to how creative they can be! Plus, once they master flying a drone, it will open up even more opportunities for them in photography and videography.
Drone photography is something that many people have become passionate about – it not only teaches technical skills but also inspires creativity.
Some people have even taken it as far as making a career out of it!
Racing Drones
Racing drones are the most exciting way to get into the drone community! They’re fast, agile and capable of some serious tricks.
Plus, with all the customization options available, you can make your racing drone look just how you want it to. You can even fly them indoors if you want – just remember there’s no substitute for safety when using powerful toys like this.
These drones are more involved as they are often custom-built using DIY methods. Even though there are plenty of tutorials and kits to buy I would recommend racing drones for much older kids.
Long Range Drones
If you’re looking to fly further than your backyard, then long-range drones are just what you need.
These powerful models can reach up to two miles away, so it’s important to always follow the flight rules and be aware of drone safety before taking them out for a spin.
The FAA rules require you to always keep your drone in sight, so don’t go flying too far.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Much Experience Do I Need To Fly A Drone?
Flying a drone isn’t as hard as you might think! You don’t need to be an expert or have tons of experience – anyone can do it!
The most important thing is understanding some basics about drones and what’s expected of you. That means learning the rules and regulations, getting familiar with battery life, and practicing good drone etiquette.
With these things in mind, even someone who doesn’t know much about flying drones could get started fairly easily.
Are Drones Safe For Children?
Yes, drones are safe for kids. But, it depends on their age.
Most drones have an age limit of 14+ years old because they can be difficult to control and might not be suitable for younger children.
In addition, there are privacy concerns when flying a drone as it may capture videos or photos without the knowledge of others in its vicinity.
Therefore, if you’re considering getting your child a drone, make sure that they understand how to use it responsibly and with respect for other people’s privacy.
Are Spare Parts Readily Available For Drones?
Yes, getting spare parts for drones can be very simple.
Dont forget that buying a drone can be like buying a car. It’s an exciting purchase, but you also want to consider the cost of repairs down the road.
When it comes to spare parts for drones, doing your homework and researching beforehand is key! Knowing what replacement parts are available and at what price will save you money in the long run – not just when buying tips, but repair costs as well.
Don’t let yourself get caught off guard by surprise fees after making such an exciting purchase!
What Additional Accessories Do I Need To Fly A Drone?
When it comes to flying a drone, there are plenty of accessories you’ll need in order to get the most out of your experience.
Here are some handy guides for drone accessories
The essentials include extra batteries and propellers, as well as a battery charger so you can keep them powered up. Although most modern drones have that in a kit already.
You might also want to get some protection such as propeller guards, which will help you avoid obstacles like trees or other buildings.
Lastly, if you plan on traveling with your drone make sure to invest in some sort of carrying case for added protection.
With these items in hand, you’ll be ready to take flight!
Are There Any Regulations I Need To Be Aware Of Before Flying A Drone?
Yes. Luckily it’s not too difficult and they are very similar around the world.
Depending on the skill level of the pilot, some countries may require registration or certification for certain types of drones.
Even if you’re just flying for fun in your backyard, there are still safety guidelines and airspace rules that need to be followed.
So before you launch your drone into flight, brush up on all the applicable laws and regulations – after all, no one likes getting an unexpected fine!
Conclusion
Flying a drone is an exciting and rewarding experience for anyone, especially kids. There are many factors to consider when choosing the best drone for your child, including safety features, accessories needed, and regulations that must be followed.
With some research and patience, you can find the perfect model for your kid’s needs. As the old adage goes ‘practice makes perfect’, so with enough practice even a beginner can become an expert in no time!
Just remember to always fly responsibly and have fun!
The DJI Mini SE is a lightweight drone that can record HD video and capture 12-megapixel images.
It has a 3-axis gimbal for smooth video and it can fly for 30 minutes and has a 2.5-mile transmission range.
It's easy to carry and wind-resistant, making it a good choice for beginner pilots who want to create content.
