Whenever someone thinks of flying a drone, the first thing they have to do is check how high it is allowed to fly a drone in their country. Each country has its own rules and if you try to fly a drone higher than this, you may face problems and you may even be fined. In most countries, this limit is 400 feet or 120 meters, but in some countries it may be less or more. This limit is set so that the drone does not come in the way of any plane or helicopter and there is no issue of anyone’s property or privacy. Therefore, when you want to fly a drone, you should first check the law of this country, otherwise you may have problems in the circle of your enjoyment. I have also told you some drone legalities below and have told you how high you can fly a drone according to the country’s reputation.
Maximum Legal Drone Altitude by Country
| Continent | Country | Maximum Altitude (feet/meters) |
|---|---|---|
| North America | United States 🇺🇸 | 400 feet (122 meters) |
| North America | Canada 🇨🇦 | 400 feet (122 meters) |
| Europe | United Kingdom 🇬🇧 | 400 feet (120 meters) |
| Europe | Germany 🇩🇪 | 328 feet (100 meters) (without permission) |
| Europe | France 🇫🇷 | 492 feet (150 meters) |
| Europe | Italy 🇮🇹 | 230 feet (70 meters) (standard category) |
| Europe | Spain 🇪🇸 | 394 feet (120 meters) |
| Europe | Netherlands 🇳🇱 | 394 feet (120 meters) |
| Europe | Sweden 🇸🇪 | 394 feet (120 meters) |
| Asia | India 🇮🇳 | 400 feet (120 meters) (above ground level) |
| Asia | Pakistan 🇵🇰 | 200 feet (60 meters) (generally, varies by city and permit) |
| Asia | China 🇨🇳 | 393 feet (120 meters) |
| Asia | Japan 🇯🇵 | 492 feet (150 meters) (but requires approval above 150m) |
| Asia | South Korea 🇰🇷 | 492 feet (150 meters) (approval needed above 150m) |
| Asia | Indonesia 🇮🇩 | 492 feet (150 meters) (permission may be needed above 150m) |
| Oceania | Australia 🇦🇺 | 400 feet (120 meters) |
| Oceania | New Zealand 🇳🇿 | 400 feet (120 meters) |
| Middle East | UAE 🇦🇪 | 400 feet (120 meters) (in allowed zones) |
| Middle East | Saudi Arabia 🇸🇦 | 400 feet (120 meters) (varies by permit) |
| Middle East | Israel 🇮🇱 | 400 feet (120 meters) (strict rules near borders/airports) |
| Africa | South Africa 🇿🇦 | 400 feet (120 meters) |
| Africa | Kenya 🇰🇪 | 400 feet (120 meters) (requires drone registration) |
| Africa | Nigeria 🇳🇬 | 400 feet (120 meters) (approval required for commercial use) |
| South America | Brazil 🇧🇷 | 400 feet (120 meters) (up to 120m for visual line-of-sight) |
| South America | Argentina 🇦🇷 | 400 feet (120 meters) |
| South America | Chile 🇨🇱 | 400 feet (120 meters) (in populated areas, more in remote) |
| South America | Colombia 🇨🇴 | 500 feet (152 meters) (with restrictions and visibility) |
| Central America | Mexico 🇲🇽 | 400 feet (120 meters) (must stay away from people and airports) |
Consumer Drones: How High Can They Go?
Popular Models and Their Limits
Most consumer drones have a height limit already set, which is in accordance with government rules. For example, drones in the DJI Phantom series cannot normally fly above 400 feet unless the user changes the setting himself. However, this setting should be changed only if the rules of the area in which you are flying allow it
Risks of Flying Too High
Flying a drone at a higher altitude than its maximum height can be dangerous, the biggest risk of which is that the drone may fall into the path of a commercial aircraft, which is not only illegal but can also be a risk of an accident. In addition, flying at a higher altitude weakens the drone’s signal and causes it to lose contact, which can lead to your drone being lost. In some areas, flying at a higher altitude is a violation of air traffic rules, for which you may be fined. At higher altitudes, the air pressure is also different, which drains the drone’s battery faster and puts a strain on the motor, which has a very bad effect on the health of your drone.
Conclusion
If you buy a drone, you should know its height-related information before buying it. Because consumer drones usually have a flying limit of 400 feet, but professional and military drones can fly much higher, but they are in accordance with legal and ethical rules. When you look at your drone, see that your drone has a limit. If you live in a country where the drone limit is more than 400 feet, then you can change the limit of your drone and fly it higher. But there are some risks of flying higher, which we have told you above, in which your drone does not catch the signal correctly and due to air pressure, there is an issue of your drone’s health, etc. As technology advances, drones are flying even higher.