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Drone Payload Capacity Calculator

Work out drone payload capacity instantly with clear inputs, formula shown and shareable results.

About Drone Payload Capacity Calculator

A multirotor needs meaningful thrust margin to control itself, so maximum all-up weight is total static thrust divided by the target thrust-to-weight ratio — 2:1 is the usual design point. Payload is whatever remains after the airframe and battery.

Formula

Multirotor payload

AUW = total thrust / target thrust-to-weight; payload = AUW - airframe and battery mass

Worked example

With the default values below, Drone Payload Capacity Calculator returns Payload capacity of 750. Change any input above and every figure here is recalculated in your browser.

Inputs used

Static thrust per motor
1,100 g
Number of motors
4 motors
Airframe and battery weight
1,450 g
Thrust-to-weight target
2 x

Results

Payload capacity
750 g
Total static thrust
4,400 g
Maximum all-up weight at target ratio
2,200 g
Hover throttle at max weight
50.0% %

Step by step

  1. 1Values used
  2. 2Multirotor payload
  3. 3Payload capacity= 750 g
  4. 4Total static thrust= 4,400 g
  5. 5Maximum all-up weight at target ratio= 2,200 g
  6. 6Hover throttle at max weight= 50.0 %

Assumptions and limits

  • The result is derived only from the 4 inputs listed above. Anything not among them is not part of the calculation.
  • In particular, this calculator does not take inflation, tax, fees or charges or compounding frequency into account.
  • Figures are rounded for display to 1 decimal place, so totals built from several rounded parts can differ slightly from the unrounded arithmetic.

How these calculators are built and tested is described on the Methodology page. If a figure looks wrong, please report it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why aim for 2:1 thrust to weight?

It puts hover near 50% throttle, leaving headroom to arrest a descent, fight a gust and yaw without saturating a motor.

Is static thrust the right number?

It is optimistic. Thrust falls as the aircraft moves and in thin or hot air, so derate the figure for high-altitude or hot operations.

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