Consumer Drones Global Market Report 2025

The consumer drones market size has grown rapidly in recent years. It will grow from $6.77 billion in 2024 to $7.96 billion in 2025 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 17.7%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to growing community, use cases diversification, remote sensing and surveillance, autonomous and ai features.

The consumer drones market size is expected to see strong growth in the next few years. It will grow to $9.7 billion in 2029 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.1%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to e-commerce and delivery, environmental and agricultural applications, drone swarms, connectivity and data sharing. Major trends in the forecast period include improved battery technology, noise reduction, advanced camera technology, technological advancements.

The forecast of 5.1% growth over the next five years indicates a slight reduction of 0.1% from the previous projection for this market.This marginal decrease is influenced by ongoing tariff-related uncertainties between the U.S. and its trade partners.This is likely to directly affect the US through supply chain disruptions for gimbal stabilizers, sourced from key regions such as China and Taiwan, which could lead to increased prices for hobbyist UAVs.The effect will also be felt more widely due to reciprocal tariffs and the negative effect on the global economy and trade due to increased trade tensions and restrictions.

The growing demand in the agricultural sector is expected to drive the expansion of the consumer drone market in the coming years. Agriculture includes activities such as soil cultivation, crop production, and livestock management. Consumer drones play a crucial role in agriculture by providing farmers with valuable insights into their crops and livestock, allowing for more informed decision-making and the optimization of farming practices. For example, in February 2024, the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs, a UK-based government department, reported that in 2022, agriculture contributed £13.9 billion (approximately $17.4 billion USD) to the UK economy in Gross Value Added (GVA) at basic prices, accounting for 0.6% of the nation's GDP. This represents an increase of £1.8 billion (around $2.25 billion USD), or 15%, compared to 2021. As a result, the increasing demand within agriculture is fueling the growth of the consumer drone market.

The increasing popularity of sports and adventure activities is expected to drive the growth of the consumer drones market. Sports and adventure activities encompass physical exercises and challenges, both competitive and recreational, such as soccer, climbing, and hiking. The rising popularity of these activities is attributed to growing health awareness, a desire for unique experiences, and increased interest in outdoor recreation. Commercial drones are used in sports and adventure activities to capture dynamic aerial footage, enhance event broadcasting, and provide real-time tracking or mapping for participants. For instance, in February 2024, a report by the Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA), a US-based trade association, revealed that in 2023, participation in winter sports, team sports, racquet sports, and water sports increased by over 9%, with winter sports seeing a 22% growth. Additionally, pickleball participation surged by 51.8% from 2022, and overall sports and fitness participation reached 242 million Americans, a 2.2% increase from the previous year. Therefore, the growing popularity of sports and adventure activities is fueling the growth of the consumer drones market.

Key players in the consumer drone market are innovating with products like the Mini 4 Pro to enhance customer experiences. SZ DJI Technology Co. Ltd., a technology company based in China, introduced the Mini 4 Pro in September 2023. This lightweight drone incorporates advanced features, such as the DJI Fly app integrated within the device for flight control, removing the necessity for separate smartphone use. The Mini 4 Pro boasts several innovative functionalities, including Large-Angle Tilt, True Vertical Shooting, Digital Zoom, DJI O4 FHD digital video transmission system, omnidirectional obstacle sensing, improved ActiveTrack 360°, an upgraded camera sensor, and an Intelligent Flight Battery. These attributes collectively position the drone as a versatile and powerful choice for enthusiasts seeking adventure.

Consumer drones, primarily designed for recreational use, are unmanned aerial vehicles tailored for entertainment purposes. They feature user-friendly controls specifically aimed at the general public rather than commercial applications.

Various categories of consumer drones include fixed-wing drones, rotary-blade drones, and hybrid drones. Fixed-wing drones are pilotless aircraft that can be remotely controlled by individuals or operated autonomously through onboard systems. These drones utilize diverse technologies such as remotely operated, semi-autonomous, and fully autonomous systems. They serve multiple purposes, including hobbies, gaming, and applications like aerial photography.

Note that the outlook for this market is being affected by rapid changes in trade relations and tariffs globally. The report will be updated prior to delivery to reflect the latest status, including revised forecasts and quantified impact analysis. The report’s Recommendations and Conclusions sections will be updated to give strategies for entities dealing with the fast-moving international environment.

The sharp increase in U.S. tariffs and resulting trade disputes in spring 2025 are significantly affecting the aerospace and defense sector. Prices for key materials such as titanium, carbon fiber composites, and avionics primarily sourced from international suppliers have surged. Defense contractors, constrained by fixed-price government contracts, are forced to absorb these rising costs. Meanwhile, commercial aerospace companies are encountering resistance from airlines over increased aircraft prices. In addition, customs delays are disrupting already tight production timelines for jets and satellites. In response, the industry is stockpiling essential materials, pursuing import waivers for defense-related goods, and working with allied nations to diversify supply chains.

The consumer drones market research report is one of a series of new reports that provides consumer drones market statistics, including consumer drones industry global market size, regional shares, competitors with a consumer drones market share, detailed consumer drones market segments, market trends and opportunities, and any further data you may need to thrive in the consumer drones industry. This consumer drone market research report delivers a complete perspective of everything you need, with an in-depth analysis of the current and future scenario of the industry.

Drone manufacturers are increasingly leveraging artificial intelligence to automate consumer drones. Integrating deep-learning algorithms and various machine learning techniques, these drones can navigate and operate beyond the user's direct control and line of sight. This incorporation of AI allows the drones to be programmed for independent flight, relying on variables like target destination, engine rotor speed, altitude, airspeed, and environmental conditions to self-navigate and make necessary adjustments. For instance, Skydio's R1 drone employs machine learning capabilities, enabling it to autonomously maneuver and track individuals while in flight.

In January 2023, Ondas Holdings Inc., a technology company based in the United States, successfully finalized the acquisition of Airobotics for $15.2 million. With this acquisition, Ondas' drone division is strategically positioned to address a wider array of customer markets, drawing on Airobotics' technology, specialized knowledge, and unique drone platform to enrich Ondas' existing product portfolio and fortify its array of customer solutions. Airobotics Ltd. is a drone manufacturing company based in Israel.

Major companies operating in the consumer drones market include 3D Robotics Inc., Guangdong Cheerson Hobby Technology Co. Ltd., Parrot S.A., SZ DJI Technology Co. Ltd., Yuneec International Co. Ltd., EHang Holdings Limited, Airdog Ltd., GoPro Inc., Hobbico Inc., Shenzhen Hubsan Technology Co. Ltd., Horizon Hobby LLC, Guangdong Syma Model Aircraft Industrial Co. Ltd., Walkera Technology Co. Ltd., ZEROTECH Intelligence Technology Co. Ltd., Autel Robotics USA LLC, Syma Toys Industrial Co. Ltd., Blade Helis, Holy Stone Enterprise Co. Ltd., JJRC Toy Factory, Potensic Technology Co. Ltd., Ryze Tech (Shenzhen) Co. Ltd., Snaptain, Altair Aerial LLC, Contixo Inc., Force1 RC LLC, GoolRC, Ruko Smart Co. Ltd., ScharkSpark, SGOTA, SIMREX Corporation, Tello, UDI RC, Shantou City Chenghai District Wisha Electronic Toys Factory (Visuo)

North America was the largest region in consumer drones market in 2024. North America is expected to be the fastest growing region in the global consumer drones market during the forecast period. The regions covered in the consumer drones market report are Asia-Pacific, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, and Africa.

The countries covered in the consumer drones market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Italy, Spain, Canada.

The consumer (recreational) drone market consists of sales of remotely piloted and unpiloted aerial vehicles for general purposes such as recreation, fun, and entertainment by mass users. Values in this market are factory gate values, that is the value of goods sold by the manufacturers or creators of the goods, whether to other entities (including downstream manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors, and retailers) or directly to end customers. The value of goods in this market includes related services sold by the creators of the goods.

The market value is defined as the revenues that enterprises gain from the sale of goods and/or services within the specified market and geography through sales, grants, or donations in terms of the currency (in USD, unless otherwise specified).

The revenues for a specified geography are consumption values that are revenues generated by organizations in the specified geography within the market, irrespective of where they are produced. It does not include revenues from resales along the supply chain, either further along the supply chain or as part of other products.

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