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The short answer: a drone under 250 grams (0.55 lb) is the easiest kind of camera drone to own in the US. If you fly it just for fun, you don’t have to register it with the FAA. You do still need to take a free online safety test and follow a few simple rules.

That’s why so many first drones are sold at “249 g.” Below: why the line matters, what these small drones can do, and where to find our picks.

Why 250 grams matters

250 grams is just over half a pound. At that weight or more, the FAA wants a drone registered, which costs $5 and means labeling the drone and carrying a certificate. Under it, a drone flown only for fun is exempt.

What doesn’t change with weight:

  • The free FAA safety test. It’s called TRUST, it’s online, and you carry proof of passing when you fly.
  • The basic rules. Stay at or below 400 feet, keep the drone where you can see it, give way to planes and helicopters, and get permission before flying near airports.
  • Flying for anything but fun is different. Anything that isn’t purely for fun counts as work flying to the FAA, even an unpaid favor like filming for a business or a charity. Then even a small drone must be registered and you need an FAA pilot certificate. The FAA explains where the line falls on its page for recreational flyers.
  • Local rules. States, cities and parks can have their own drone rules, so check before flying somewhere new.

All of it, in plain words, is in do you need to register a drone under 250 grams?

What you get at this size

Small doesn’t mean toy. DJI’s Mini 4 Pro, for example, folds to about the length of a smartphone, though much thicker. It films 4K video. DJI rates it for up to 34 minutes per battery in still air, so real flights are shorter. Many of our picks also come back to you on their own if the signal drops or the battery runs low, by their makers’ descriptions.

The trade-offs are real, though. A light drone gets pushed around more in wind than a big one, and the cheapest models have simpler cameras and fewer safety features.

One more thing to know before you shop: a maker’s “under 249 g” figure is for the drone with its standard battery, propellers and memory card. The FAA counts everything attached at takeoff. DJI says its Mini 4 Pro weighs more than 249 grams with the larger “Plus” battery. A drone at 250 grams or more must be registered, and must also broadcast Remote ID, a signal that identifies the drone in flight.

Buying one now

In December 2025 the FCC, which approves electronics for sale in the US, added foreign-made drones to a list that stops new models from being approved. As of October 2026, models it approved before then can still be sold, bought and flown (FCC fact sheet). The FCC has proposed limits on some of those too, so check its current notices. For now, the choice in US stores is narrower than it used to be, and stock can come and go.

Start here

The best drones under 250 grams

Our six picks, from a low-cost starter drone to a folding 4K camera drone that senses obstacles. All are under 250 grams as sold and still sold in the US.

See the picks

Buying a drone under 250 grams as a gift

Who a small drone suits, which one fits which person, what to buy with it, and the two things the new owner must do before flying.

Read the gift guide

Do you need to register a drone under 250 grams?

The FAA basics in plain words: what the exemption covers, the free safety test, and the rules for your first flight.

Read the basics

Common questions

Can a child fly a drone under 250 grams?

Yes. The FAA’s free safety test has no minimum age, so a child can take it and fly for fun under the same rules as everyone else. We’d suggest an adult helps with the first flights. If a drone ever does need registering, the owner must be 13 or older, or an older person registers it for them.

I'm visiting the US. Does this apply to me?

The FAA says visitors from other countries have extra steps. Its page for recreational flyers links to “International UAS Operators in the United States.” Check that page before you travel, and your airline’s rules for packing drone batteries.

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