Last Updated on September 3, 2019
DIY drone is for drone enthusiast who wants to spend the time to build a quadcopter. If you are interested in Ready-to-Fly (RTF) drones, check out our RTF drones for adults.
There are many “build” options in DIY drones. At the basic level, you can:
- Buy a complete DIY drone kit (all or most components are included.)
- Buy individual DIY drone parts such as the frame, propellers, motors, battery, remote controller, etc.
Top-rated DIY drone kits for adult beginners
Kitables DIY Mini Drone for Stem Curriculum
QWinQut QQ Super Multi-Rotor Flight Control DIY 310mm Fiberglass RC Racing Drone
Hobbypower DIY S500 Quadcopter
Hobbypower DIY 250 Mini Quadcopter H250 Racing Drone Frame Kit
In general, a drone kit is slightly more affordable than a RTF. Many DIY quadcopter kits do not include the ground controller.
This article is for beginner adults – focus on building a first DIY drone using a drone kit.
Two basic factors to consider when choosing a DIY drone kit:
- Budget. Prices for kits vary from the mid-$50 range to over $500.
- Time to assemble. More experienced people will take less time to assemble a kit. Our time estimated is for a person who knows how to assemble a kit, but is not very fast at it.
Top-rated DIY drone kits for adult beginners
1. Kitables DIY Mini Drone for Stem Curriculum
This Kitables DIY drone kit includes all the parts you need to build a mini drone. This small indoor quadcopter is an excellent way to learn about building and flying a quadcopter.
- Build your own mini drone from scratch following detailed instructions online....
- The perfect gift that is fun, creative, and unique.
- Elevate bricks to a whole new level: our DIY Mini Drone kit includes all the parts...
- Great for STEM curriculum: our DIY Mini Drone kit helps teach and encourage...
How long to assemble the kit? Less than an hour. Soldering the motor leads to the printed circuit takes the most time.
- Assemble the frame.
- The packaging comes with A motors and B motors.
- Identify clockwise motors (A) and Counter clockwise motors (B) and propellers.
- Attach CW propellers to CW motors and CCW propellers to CCW motors.
- Solder motor leads (color coded to solder location is important).
- Attach motor to frame with plastic tie wraps.
What do you get in this kit?
- Frame is Lego bricks.
- Transmitter
- Receiver
- Motors (4)
- Propellers (4)
- Main battery (LiPo)
- Legos for at least a couple of frame configurations
- 3 AAA batteries for transmitter
- USB charger
- zip ties
- Rubber bands
What don’t you get? If you don’t already have one, you will need to buy a soldering iron (View on Amazon)
What can this drone do? Fly around the room. Good way to practice quadcopter piloting skills. It is small, lightweight and easily broken. (Also easily fixed). Don’t expect to keep this around for a long time. You are building it for the experience.
Pros
- Reasonable price
- Quadcopter is small enough to fly inside
Cons
- Small. Big fingers may have troubles holding the parts.
- No special modes such as altitude hold, or flips.
2. QWinQut QQ Super Multi-Rotor Flight Control DIY 310mm Fiberglass RC Racing Drone
- Unassembly ARF Combo, Full Set DIY
- 310 Fiberglass Alien Across Mini Quadcopter DIY Frame Kit<
- QQ SUPER Multi-rotor Flight Control board
- Radiolink T8FB 2.4GHz 8CH RC Transmitter and R8EH Receiver
This kit makes for a fun project. It took a bit longer than I had planned, because I had to go on-line to find answers and videos. Still, it is a good 450mm (about 17.7 inches) quadcopter. This kit contains all the parts needed to build and fly the quadcopter. This kit builds a good quality quadcopter. Once you have it together, you will find many uses.
How long to assemble the kit?This QWinQut kit may take a couple of hours to assemble. This kit may take a couple of hours to assemble. This kits takes a new approach to the instruction manual. Instead of an instruction manual, there is a YouTube video showing you how to do it. The ESC (Electronic Speed Control is per-calibrated at the factory.
For a lot of people, building something like a quadcopter, is a learning experience. This kit will an excellent learning experience. Watch instruction video carefully: motor 1 is clockwise (CW), 2 is Counter Clock Wise (CCW), 3is CW and 4 is CCW.
What do you get in this kit?
- Instruction video via YouTube. No Manual for this DIY Version of the F450.
- Unassembled, Purchaser must assemble.
- HJ 450 450F Nylon Fiber Flamewheel Frame
- 4 A2212 1000KV Motor base
- 30A ESC (Electronic Speed Control)
- KK V2.3 Flight Control
- Programmer Firmware Loader USB
- 2 pair 1045 Propeller
- 11.1V 2200mah 20c lipo battery
- Charger + adapter
- Radiolink T8FB 2.4GHz 8Ch RC Transmitter and R8EH Receiver
What don’t you get? No Paper instructions. Get instructions online. You will need to buy a soldering iron (View on Amazon)
What can this drone do?
- Flight time is 7 – 11 minutes.
- It takes just a few seconds to properly pair the ground controller to the quadcopter.
Pros
- Good solid quad-copter Quality components
Cons
- No special modes such as altitude hold, or flips.
3. Hobbypower DIY S500 Quadcopter
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You can learn a lot about quadcopters by putting this kit together. When you get done assembling it, you will have a nice quadcopter that you can use to fly around the park, parking lot or your back yard.
This quadcopter be an excellent starting point for future projects. For example, you may choose to replace standard motors with something faster and create a racing quadcopter. You can choose to add a camera, or a claw to pick up and retrieve a small item.
Check out The Mantis Claw Drone Recovery Claw Hook Grabber System (view on Amazon) for your add-on project.
How long to assemble the kit?This Hobbypower DIY S500 kit takes only a couple of hours to assemble. The frame comes assembled.
What do you get in this Hobbypower DIY S500 kit?
- S500 frame kit w/carbon fiber landing gear.
- The frame is assembled.
- 4 Hobbypower 2212 920KV Brushless motor (2 CW, 2 CCW)
- 4 Hobbypower Simonk 30A Speed Controller
- APM2.8 Flight controller
- NEO-7M GPS
- Gemfan 1045(CW+CCW) Black Propeller
- Gemfan 1045(CW+CCW) Orange Propeller
- GPS Bracket
- 1 Spare parts pack
What don’t you get?
- Printed Instructions are not included, Pictures showing assembled components are included)
- Ground controller is not included. Check out FlySky FS-i6-M2 2.4GHz 6-Channel Transmitter(View on Amazon)
- Main battery is not included. Check out 3S Lipo Battery (View on Amazon)
What can this drone do?
- Flight time is 7 – 11 minutes.
- It flies well, it can carry other components, such as camera (tested it with 400grams ok.)
Pros
- Quality product
- Great learning experience. You can learn a lot just by putting this quadcopter together.
Cons
- Need a controller.
- Need to buy the main battery.
- No special modes such as altitude hold, or flips.
4. Hobbypower DIY 250 Mini Quadcopter H250 Racing Drone Frame Kit
- This is a DIY 250 Quadcopter kit, it is unassembled.
- This kit is a very popular Mini Drone, it has a strong rack, beautiful appearance,...
- Please be note this kit need remote control and battery to complete. we recommend 6CH...
This is well designed quadcopter. The frame is strong enough that it won’t break if you accidentally land it a little harder than you intended.
This frame is a 250mm. Every racing league has their own rules. Read the rules carefully. The 250 frame complies nicely with the 250 class in most leagues. They didn’t choose the cheapest components, so you get a good quality quadcopter.
How long to assemble the kit?This Hobbypower DIY H250 kit takes only a couple of hours to assemble.
What do you get in this Hobbypower DIY H250 kit?
- 1 x QAV250 Full carbon frame kit
- 4 x HP T2204 2300KV Brushless motor (2pcs CW +2pcs CCW)
- 4 x Emax Simonk 20A Speed Controller
- 4 x 5045(CW+CCW) Propeller ( 2pair red, 2pair black)
- 1 x CC3D Flight Controller & protect case
- 1 x Matek Power Hub
- 1x Spare parts pack
What don’t you get?
- This kit needs a remote controller and the main battery to complete. You should have at least 6CH controller and a 2-3S 1000mah to 1800mah LiPo battery. Check out FlySky FS-i6-M2 2.4GHz 6-Channel Transmitter(View on Amazon)
- You will need a soldering iron (View on Amazon)
What can this drone do?
- At 9 inches (center of rotor to center of rotor), it will fly well in a large room or outside in calm weather.
Pros
- Great learning experience. You can learn a lot just by putting this quadcopter together.
Cons
- You have to buy a controller and a battery separately.
Check out DIY Drone for school science project for STEM project with your kid.
