Drones are cool! They let us take photos from angles we’ve never been able to explore, have allow hobbyists and photographers to push the limits of what’s possible with a camera and have opened up a whole new world of spying.
Drones can make noise, but they’re quieter than you might think. The noise level depends on what kind of motor they have and how high they fly. If you need to fly your drone inaudibly, you can use a silent propeller or one that makes less noise than others.
But despite all the fun and exciting uses drones, there is one thing that people always want to know about them when they come out, how noisy are drones? Are they quiet and stealthy or do they scream like a swarm of bees while flying through the air.
I’m sure plenty of people would be happy to learn that not all drones make a lot of noise, but it might take away a certain aspect of the cool factor. Are drones noisy? We’ll answer this in detail in the following guide.
Drones Are About As Loud As A Lawnmower Or A Hairdryer
The first thing to know when answering the question, “How loud are drones?” is that noise is measured in decibels. A conversation about a drone’s sound level might begin with something like, “That drone is about 70 decibels.” But what does that mean? Let’s break it down.
An average hairdryer emits approximately 70 decibels of noise; this level of sound can be annoying but isn’t likely to cause hearing damage. Someone using a lawnmower would generate about 90 decibels of noise, which is louder and can be harmful if people nearby are exposed to it for extended periods of time.
Some Drones Are Quieter Than Others
If you’ve ever operated a drone or been around someone who has, you’ll have noticed that they make quite a bit of noise. Whether it’s the whooshing sound of the propellers sweeping through the air as they rotate at high speed, or the buzzing of their motors, drones can be pretty loud. But why is this?
Well, if you think about it, there are many parts of a drone that could potentially produce noise: the propellers spin at high RPM to provide lift and thrust; there are small motors in each rotor hub to control pitch and rotation; and there is a main computer system with fans to cool its sensitive electronics.
The primary contributor to drone-produced noise is actually its propellers — as these turn quickly through the air, they cause turbulence which we perceive as sound.
The good news for those concerned about noise pollution from drones is that not all propellers generate equal amounts of sound.
This is primarily due to differences in aerodynamic efficiency (how effectively they move through the air), blade count (the number of blades making up the assembly), pitch (the angle at which each blade sits relative to its axis), size, material and construction style. Let’s take a look at how each factor plays into overall propeller noise production.
Drones Are Getting Quieter
There is no doubt that drones are loud. In fact, they’re really, really loud. Their size and maneuverability make them seem more like space shuttles than flying machines—and that’s before one factors in the noise they produce.
But because of the innovative technology behind their creation, manufacturers are starting to take steps to quiet these devices down. Even with all the hype around their noise-making capabilities, they’re actually getting quieter as time goes on.
Since 2008 when the first drone was launched into a public place, drone manufacturers have been trying to figure out how to make a quieter model for normal use—and for good reason: we didn’t want anyone being shocked or scarred by a loud drone flying near them.
Some people even claimed that drones were too noisy for personal use and suggested laws limiting how many were allowed in an airspace at one time or legislating against their use during certain hours of the day or night.
It’s true that some models can be disruptive and overly obtrusive when flown too close to you, but it’s also important not to forget about the benefits of drones: aerial photography has been taking amazing pictures since its inception—they just haven’t been available until now through traditional photographic equipment (in most cases).
And at times where traditional photography is not possible or practical due to legality issues (due to privacy concerns), droning around will serve as an excellent alternative method of transportation with high-quality results.
Drones Are Not Excessively Loud
To know if a drone is getting annoying, you’ll want to listen to how long it’s making noise. If you’re hearing a sound for just a few seconds as the drone takes off, flies high, and lands or returns home, that’s not likely to be too disturbing.
But if you’re hearing the humming of the propellers constantly or for extended periods of time, that could get annoying.
If you want to know if a drone is too loud—that’s tougher because there are no legal standards for how loud drones can be. In general though, most drones tend to make sounds in the 60-90 decibel range (similar to lawnmowers), so it’s possible that some drones may be too loud for certain situations (like filming concerts).
Why Drones Are Loud (are Drones Noisy?)
The rapid advancement in drone technology has created a commercial explosion in the drone industry. Drones are used for everything from military strikes to delivery of goods, and they’re becoming increasingly popular among hobbyists as well.
1. The Propellers Have To Be Big To Support The Weight
As you might imagine, a drone has to have fairly powerful rotors to loft both itself and any payload into the air. And as is frequently the case with anything that moves through air at high speed, this produces noise.
The propellers typically used on drones are made from plastic, which isn’t the best material for maintaining a quiet flight profile. Why would manufacturers use it? Lightness and cost: there are no fancy or expensive alloys required in their production, so they’re cheap to make and easy to replace.
2. They Have To Be Fast To Generate Lift
To understand why drones are so loud, it’s important to know how a drone generates lift. Without lift, you can’t fly. Lift is generated by the propellers on the drone spinning fast enough to create an area of low pressure above them.
Think of Bernoulli’s Principle: when molecules move past a surface they take with them some of that surface’s energy which results in an area of lower air density and pressure. This is what allows planes and other flying objects to stay aloft – by moving through the air at high speed they generate lift.
So even though it doesn’t look like there’s anything attached underneath the propellers or that they’re moving fast enough to generate lots of lift, they actually have to be turning pretty quickly to overcome gravity and keep the drone airborne (more than 1000 revolutions per minute).
The faster something moves–like the tips of those blades–the more noise it makes and so since drones need those blades spinning quickly for flight, this is why they’re so loud.
3. The Engines Are Meant For Outdoor Use, But Not Aerial Use
The engines in drones are not optimized for aerial use. The reason for this is simple: the engines are meant for outdoor use, but not for aerial use. An engine that is too heavy or too loud would have a negative effect on a drone’s performance. It would also make the drone more difficult to control while flying.
A common misconception about drones is that they are always louder than cars. However, there are several ways to reduce the noise of your drone and make it quieter.
One way to do this is by installing propellers with smaller blades. Another way to reduce noise is by adding an exhaust baffle or muffler to your drone’s exhaust system.
4. Most Drones Have Only One Engine
As a drone owner, you’re probably wondering if there’s any way to quiet down your noisy little friend. The answer, unfortunately, is no. The good news is that the reason most drones are so loud actually makes safety sense—although it can be annoying for those around you.
Most drones have only one engine, which is usually positioned at the center of its body. This engine powers the entire craft while in flight, and it’s designed to produce a significant amount of noise as it operates.
This allows people on the ground to hear the drone even if they can’t see it—which could help them avoid getting dangerously close to where it’s flying and avoid potential crashes with other aircrafts (or buildings).
Drones With Their Sound Level
Dji Spark
A DJI Spark drone is a small and lightweight UAV, which means that the noise it produces is louder than larger unmanned aircraft. The tiny propellers are measured at 80 decibels. Its equivalent to a hairdryer or an alarm clock that’s buzzing right next to your ear.
In general, the loudest drones are quadcopters (drones with four propellers) because their propeller blades extend further from their bodies and have more surface area than other types of drones (like tri-copters). Multi-copters also produce more noise when they’re moving faster, so staying in Sport mode for longer periods of time will increase the volume.
To compare this level to other models, simply look for other drones within the same weight class as the Dji Spark: toy and entry-level consumer drones. Inside this category are similar models like the Ryze Tello and DJI Mavic Mini.
Dji Mavic Pro
If you want the quietest drone currently on the market, go for the DJI Mavic Pro. The Mavic Pro is quieter than its older siblings, Phantom 4 and Inspire 1. At a distance of 10 feet, the noise level of a flying Mavic Pro is around 65 dB, about 5 dB less than that of a Phantom 4. At 15 feet away from you, a Mavic Pro will be around 70 dB loud – again roughly 5 dB less than that of a Phantom 4 at this distance.
The reason for this difference is simple: The propellers of the Dji Mavic Pro are much thinner and thus generate less air resistance which translates into lower noise levels during flight in comparison to other drones.
Yuneec Breeze
For most situations, the Yuneec Breeze is a great choice. This drone weighs less than 1lb and folds up to the size of a paperback book. Because it’s small and lightweight, you can take this drone anywhere you want to fly it. It has an extremely simple design and is relatively quiet at only 53 decibels when flying.
It features a 4K camera that will capture 12MP still images and get up to 13 minutes of flight time on a single charge. The Yuneec Breeze comes with built-in obstacle avoidance so you don’t have to worry about crashing into things during your flights.
Gopro Karma
This drone is meant to be easy to use and travel with, so that you can take amazing aerial footage wherever you go. It has a top speed of 35mph, and can reach heights of 10,000 feet. Its maximum range is 3,280 feet, which isn’t huge but still enough for some fun adventures. The battery life is 20 minutes long—roughly average among drones—and the camera options are great: GoPro Hero4 and Hero5. The Karma is also relatively light: 1.06 pounds
Autel Robotics X-star
This must be one of the loudest drones on our list. You are going to get a reading of 83 dB, so that could make this drone not the best for urban use. It does however have some great things about it. It is rated for 25 minutes of flight time and has a range of 1.2 miles with clear line-of-sight (LOS).
The camera is pretty nice too. It is a 4K Ultra HD camera that records in 60 frames per second (FPS). That’s great if you want to take aerial videos or if you are into photography and want to take quality shots from an aerial view.
Frequently Asked Question (are Drones Noisy)
How Long Can Drones Fly?
Drones can fly for about 25 minutes. However, it depends on the battery and the weight of the drone. Some drones can fly for up to 45 minutes, depending on the battery type and other factors.
You should always check if your drone has a detachable battery or not before purchasing it so that you don’t have any issues with your flight time.
How Do Drones Stay In The Air?
While most drones are equipped with a battery to keep them aloft, it is important to understand how long your drone will stay in the air. This is because batteries need to be recharged at some point (unless you want to bring a spare).
Drones can be controlled manually or by computer. You can control the drone with a smartphone or tablet app, but this will require you to have an internet connection. If there is no internet connection available, then this option cannot be used.
If you’re looking for an aerial photography drone that requires little setup and maintenance and won’t break the bank, check out our guide on beginner-friendly models here!
How High Can Drones Fly?
You will find that the height of a drone differs depending on different models. Some drones can fly up to 20,000 feet, while others cannot fly above 400 feet. In order to fly your drone above 400 feet, you will need to obtain a license from the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration).
This is because drones are required by law not to interfere with traffic below them and also for their safety. They have different specifications according to where they are being used in case there is a crash or malfunctioning of any kind which may cause harm or damage to people or property below them
Conclusion
Drones are noisy, but it depends on the model and how you use it. Generally speaking, drones that have propellers are louder than those that don’t. Also, drones with more powerful motors will be louder than those with smaller motors.
Drones are becoming more and more popular. They include features to reduce noise and make them quieter. Keep in mind that drones could be heard from long distances if you fly them at an altitude of 1000 feet or less. Those worried about the noise from drones can sometimes successfully use sound dampeners to block it.
