The right spray drone is the one sized to your acreage and season length — not the biggest tank on the market. Bigger tanks fly fewer minutes and cost more; smaller ones refill more often. Balance is everything.
Quick tank-size recommender
Suggested class—
Tank size—
Why—
A starting point, not a purchase order. Demo before you buy and talk to owners running your acreage.
What to actually compare
- Tank & flow rate — how many acres per battery, and how fast it empties. Bigger tank = fewer refills but heavier, shorter flights.
- Batteries & charging — how many packs and what generator you need to fly all day. This is the real bottleneck.
- RTK/GNSS precision — centimeter accuracy for no-gap, no-overlap coverage and terrain following.
- Nozzles/atomizers — droplet control for drift management; centrifugal atomizers vs. pressure nozzles.
- Spreader kit — if you want cover-crop seeding and dry fertilizer as a second revenue line.
- Support, parts & training — the least glamorous, most important factor. Downtime in-season is lost money.
- NDAA/compliance — matters if you'll ever do government or restricted work.
The main platforms
The market centers on a few families: DJI Agras (widely supported, large dealer network), XAG, and US-assembled options like Hylio. Each spans multiple tank sizes. Rather than chase specs, shop by dealer support in your area and by owners running your crops and acreage. You can compare current new & used platforms on UnmannedExchange.
General buyer guidance; specifications change frequently by model year — verify current specs with the manufacturer/dealer. Pairs with our Part 137 licensing guide and ROI calculator.
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