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
A few families dominate: DJI Agras (widely supported, large dealer network), XAG, and US-assembled options like Hylio. Each spans multiple tank sizes. Don't chase specs — shop by dealer support in your area and by owners running your crops and acreage. 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.
Want it sprayed instead?
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