Work out drone flight time instantly with clear inputs, formula shown and shareable results.
Flight time is usable battery capacity in amp-hours divided by average current draw. Lithium polymer packs should not be run flat, so only 75-85% of nameplate capacity is usable; that limit, not the raw mAh figure, sets the endurance you can plan on.
Drone endurance
time (min) = (capacity Ah x usable fraction / current draw) x 60
Discharging a LiPo below about 3.5 V per cell shortens its life sharply and risks a voltage sag that drops the aircraft. Landing with 20-25% remaining is standard practice.
Not indefinitely. The extra mass raises hover current, so beyond an optimum pack size endurance starts to fall again.