What’s the highest a drone can fly and still make it back?

General Drone Discussions
1

I’m curious about how high drones can go and still return safely. Is there a standard limit for this?

2

Legally, most drones can’t go above 400 feet, but some can fly much higher. It depends on battery life and signal range.

3

Luca said:
Legally, most drones can’t go above 400 feet, but some can fly much higher. It depends on battery life and signal range.

Thanks for the info. What about custom-built drones? Do they have higher limits?

4

@Marlow
Custom builds can push boundaries, but you’d still face legal issues if you exceed 400 feet in most regions.

5

Military drones can reach altitudes above 40,000 feet, but those aren’t commercially available.

6

Consumer drones usually have firmware that restricts them to the legal limit. You’d need to modify them to go higher.

7

Reese said:
Consumer drones usually have firmware that restricts them to the legal limit. You’d need to modify them to go higher.

Interesting! Are there risks involved in modifying them?

8

@Marlow
Definitely. You could void warranties or damage the drone. Plus, higher altitudes can drain the battery faster.