Free cost tool
What should drone work cost on your ground?
Put in your acreage and we will show you a realistic range, based on rates UK operators actually publish. No sign-up, and we show you exactly how the number is worked out.
How We Work This Out
Published UK agricultural drone rates are still rare, and the figures that are public do not always agree. This tool uses contractor rates reported by Farmers Weekly, published rates from HarvestHawk and public guidance from QuadRotor on minimum job costs. Where sources disagree, the calculator keeps the range broad and shows the adjustment rather than hiding it.
Why Small Jobs Cost More Per Acre
A two acre job still needs travel, setup, battery planning, risk checks, admin and often a minimum call-out charge. That is why the calculator switches very small jobs to a minimum charge message instead of pretending that a tiny per-hectare sum is realistic.
What Moves The Price Most
Area matters, but it is not the only driver. Multiple small parcels, awkward access, steep or wet ground, obstacles, short notice and limited local operator coverage can all lift the upper end. Bigger blocks with straightforward access usually sit closer to the base rates.
What This Estimate Does Not Cover
It does not include VAT, product cost, travel outside a normal service area, water provision, crop walking, detailed mapping outputs, specialist permissions or unusual risk. For pesticides, check the HSE aerial spraying guidance and our plain-English guide before assuming a job can go ahead.
Useful Next Reads
Read the full drone spraying cost guide, check what is legal in the UK, compare what to ask before hiring an operator or go straight to the operator directory.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does drone spraying cost per acre in the UK?
Published UK rates vary by job type, but drone application often works out from the mid teens to around £20 per acre before minimum charges and job complexity are considered. Small jobs usually cost more per acre because travel, setup and compliance time are fixed.
Why does this calculator show a range?
Operators price work differently and the final number depends on field size, access, product, timing, water supply, permissions and travel. A range is more honest than a single figure.
Is drone spraying cheaper than a tractor or self-propelled sprayer?
Sometimes, especially on wet ground, steep land, awkward fields or where crop damage matters. For large, easy fields, a conventional sprayer may still be cheaper per hectare.
Can pesticides be sprayed by drone in the UK?
Applying pesticides, herbicides or fungicides from the air counts as aerial spraying in the UK. It is prohibited unless the Health and Safety Executive grants a permit, and there are currently no commercial authorisations for drone applied pesticides.