Whether or not you’re planning a proposal, a product launch, or a significant live performance, drone mild reveals are a cutting-edge method to make a visible assertion. These synchronized aerial performances use fleets of LED-equipped drones to create gorgeous shows of sunshine, coloration and animation within the sky. However earlier than you get too excited, don’t overlook to account for the precise drone mild present price.
So what precisely does it price to e-book or construct a drone mild present? Right here’s every little thing it’s worthwhile to find out about drone mild present pricing in 2025.
The whole lot it’s worthwhile to find out about drone mild present prices
Drone mild present pricing overview
Drone mild present costs are based totally on the variety of drones used. Most corporations cost between $200 to $300 per drone, and reveals usually begin at a minimal of 100 drones, bringing base prices to round $20,000 to $30,000.
In fact all types of different components additionally come into play, like high quality of animations, area, and many others. However usually, right here’s how a lot you may anticipate to spend on a drone present:
Common drone present price breakdown
- Smaller reveals (100 drones): $20,000 – $30,000
- Medium reveals (300 drones): $60,000 – $90,000
- Massive reveals (500+ drones): $100,000 – $200,000+
These costs usually embrace design, animation, FAA approvals and onsite operation — however setup, journey, or further results (like pyrotechnics, as a result of sure, you may mount fireworks on drones) can usually price further.
Common drone mild present price by area
I discussed regional variations, and because it seems, drone reveals in some nations common way more costly (and way more elaborate) than in others.
The 2024 Drone Present Market Evaluation by SPH Engineering and Duamentes World Alliance examined 1,000 reveals in 62 nations. Right here’s how regional pricing stacks up:
| Area | Avg. Present Value | Avg. Drones Used | Avg. Value per Drone |
|---|---|---|---|
| China | $114,564 | 660 | $175 |
| Center East/North Africa | $112,250 | 401 | $316 |
| India | $91,700 | 396 | $330 |
| United Kingdom | $90,570 | 257 | $309 |
| Asia Pacific | $58,440 | 307 | $195 |
| North America | $52,455 | 218 | $233 |
| Europe | $42,034 | 182 | $227 |
| Latin America | $25,550 | 115 | $218 |
Now perceive that these figures are primarily based on how a lot is spent on drone reveals. Discover that China spends probably the most on drone reveals, but it surely additionally tends to placed on bigger, extra elaborate reveals (its common drone present contains 660 drones, versus simply 115 drones used within the typically smaller drone reveals in Latin America).
And sometimes, worth per drone does lower barely as reveals get bigger, as these mounted prices like journey and licensing are inclined to amortize higher throughout drones. In any case, China had the bottom common drone price.
The price of drone reveals within the U.S. have a tendency to sit down someplace within the center, averaging about $50,000 per present. Within the U.S., drone reveals are widespread for July Fourth, at theme parks, throughout baseball video games and extra.
In truth, I noticed my first ever drone present on the finish of a baseball sport (shoutout Oakland A’s, which aren’t any extra). By the best way, test out my saved Instagram tales for a behind-a-scenes take a look at the Oakland Athletics Star Wars Gentle Present.
Value by drone mild present firm
Not each firm expenses the identical per present. For instance, Sky Components is without doubt one of the top-tier drone present suppliers, providing customized animations with many awards and world data to its identify (together with a number of Guinness World Data advert a third place spot on America’s Acquired Expertise Season 19).
Anticipate a present from a longtime firm to typically price greater than, say, a small-town firm that makes use of cookie-cutter drone present animations. And hey, a small, cookie-cutter present may be simply positive, for say, an engagement the place you simply need a massive engagement ring in drone kind within the sky.
Listed here are among the main drone corporations within the U.S. and roughly how a lot they cost per present. Once more, notice that these are simply estimates and closing costs could range primarily based in your precise present options.
Sky Components
- Beginning price: $15,000 for primary reveals
- Typical price: $30,000 – $200,000+
- Recognized for: LA Dodgers, Star Wars Evening with Oakland A’s, Grammy drone present
- Location: Texas, USA
SkyWorx
- Value per drone: $200–$400
- Present vary: 100 to 1,000+ drones
- Providers: Full inventive and technical assist
- Location: Idaho, USA
Verge Aero
- Present price: $50,000 – $200,000
- Minimal drones: 100 (really useful 300+ for 3D shapes)
- Recognized for: AGT: Excessive, Electrical Daisy Carnival, Presidential occasions
- Location: Texas, USA
What occurred to Intel drone mild reveals?
Whereas Intel was as soon as a pioneer in drone mild reveals, it formally exited the business and bought its know-how to Nova Sky Tales. Intel’s legacy contains:
Although now not in existence right now, Intel’s reveals set the stage for right now’s leaders like Nova Sky Tales, Sky Components and Verge Aero.
Associated learn: Women Who Drone teamup that includes Intel and the drone mild present workforce
Different drone mild present suppliers
- Nova Sky Tales: Based by ex-Intel workforce, now one of many prime suppliers
- Firefly: Sells {hardware} and present packages, even for DIYers
- Starlight Aerial: Recognized for the Kentucky Derby Pageant
- EHang (China): Main participant in world drone mild reveals, and has at varied factors held data for the most important drone mild reveals.
- Disney Disney’s drone present dominance primarily happens over at Disneyland Paris, the place it often operates in-house drone reveals like “Disney D-Gentle” and Marvel-themed spectacles. Although precise reveals range by season. Disney additionally has experimented with drone mild present at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida just a few instances, each at Disney Springs (as soon as in the course of the 2016 vacation season and once more in the course of the summer time of 2024). And in 2023 over in Hong Kong, Disney marked the opening night time of its new World of Frozen themed space park by way of a drone present.
- SKYMAGIC (Singapore): Dealt with New 12 months’s Eve London, Pokémon drone reveals, Venice Biennale
Launching your personal drone mild present: DIY price
If you happen to’d slightly run your personal drone mild reveals, anticipate excessive upfront prices.
Drone prices
When you can theoretically design and construct your personal mild present drone, most drone corporations buy ready-made mild present drones.
UVify is the most important maker of sunshine present drones, dominating the area with high-profile prospects together with Illumin (which was not too long ago named the official drone mild present supplier for the Metropolis of Toronto), Sky Components and Pixis Drones.
UVify expenses roughly $1,585 per drone (although they received’t allow you to purchase only one. Right here’s a tough estimate of prices.
- UVify IFO drones: $1,585 per drone
- Starter fleet (50 drones): $79,250+
UVify gives turnkey packages, together with {hardware}, software program, assist, and coaching. Point out code DGIFO for a 5% low cost, a free battery, and upgraded props per drone.
Software program & coaching
Most of the hottest drones in the marketplace embrace their very own software program (as does UVify). Nonetheless, different drone present software program (or normal animation software program) will help fill within the gaps.
For primary coaching that adults can do at dwelling, I like to recommend the Drone Gentle Present Course from Drone Dojo, which teaches you how you can construct a lightweight present utilizing the $900 PiHawk drone equipment.
After which it is a enjoyable factor. More and more extra faculties (starting from center college to varsity) provide drone mild present programs. The finest drone mild present programs embrace ready-made curriculum and {hardware} kits with the drones and different instruments it’s worthwhile to truly placed on a drone present. Yow will discover these by way of merchandise such because the DroneBlocks Gentle Present Package.
Customized drone present animations
Excessive-end drone present corporations that need to degree up their animations will want customized drone present animations. Some corporations have their very own in-house animators. However that may be costly (and impractical) to have on full-time employees.
In lots of instances, it could actually make extra sense to rent corporations to assist with mild present animations, comparable to Wow Drone. Wow Drones workforce can work with drone mild present corporations to construct out a custom-made present, from storyboards and mockups to the ultimate animation with flight path recordsdata able to add into your drones.
And the way’s this for a deal? If you e-book with Wow Drone, you may get 10% off your first order by utilizing promo code SALLYFRENCH_WOW.
Further prices that go along with drone reveals
Whether or not you because the shopper pays for this stuff — or the drone present firm you rent contains them of their total price — listed below are some further drone present prices to account for.
- FAA waivers
- Drone insurance coverage: although not required within the U.S. below FAA guidelines, many occasion areas require drone insurance coverage. Examine with the property proprietor earlier than reserving a drone present.
- Security employees and limitations
- Allowing and website rental
Drone mild reveals vs. fireworks
Whereas fireworks stay cheaper — small-town shows can price $2,000–$7,000 — drone reveals provide inventive flexibility and sustainability. Disney spends round $33,000 per fireworks present, corresponding to some mid-range drone reveals.
And naturally, there are additionally the drone reveals that actually embrace fireworks coming off the drones.
Why drones trump fireworks
- No noise air pollution
- Safer for wildlife and dry environments (considerably much less fireplace danger)
- Extra inventive storytelling (logos, textual content, 3D shapes)
- Reusable gear lowers price over time
Many occasions are actually mixing fireworks and drones, like Disney’s Marvel drone reveals in Paris.
Bringing a drone present to your occasion
Drone mild reveals are now not simply novelties — they’re centerpieces of proposals, sports activities occasions and model activations. Whereas prices stay excessive in comparison with conventional fireworks, the visible and environmental benefits are clear.
- Estimated minimal drone present price: $20,000
- Commonest vary: $50,000–$150,000
- DIY doable however costly: ~$2,000 per drone, minimal 50 drones
- Huge names: Sky Components, Verge Aero, Nova Sky Tales, SkyWorx
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