Free Aerial Operations Pricing Calculator

Know exactly what to charge before you accept a single job.

Most operators undercharge. Not because they don't know their worth, but because the math is spread across many variables such as equipment depreciation, insurance, drive time, editing hours, processor fees etc.

Enter your real costs once. Get a defensible hourly rate, a fair price for any job, and a clear verdict on whether any flat-rate offer is actually worth taking.

Aerial Operations Pricing Framework
Aerial Operations Pricing Framework
Geolocation & Remote Sensing · Commercial Field Operations
All numbers from your inputs · No AI-generated rates

Enter your real annual costs to calculate the minimum you must charge per hour to stay profitable — before you accept a single job.

Equipment Depreciation
$
Full system cost (platform + controller)
years
$
Camera, thermal, LiDAR, etc.
years
Annual Fixed Costs
$/yr
Typical: $500–$1,200
$/yr
Processing, planning, CRM, reporting
$/yr
Operational certs, training, compliance
$/yr
$/yr
Revenue Targets
hrs
Realistic paid flight + processing hours
$/yr
What you want to pay yourself
%
Cushion above break-even (10–25% typical)
Your Calculated Rates
Equipment Depreciation / Year
—
Platform + sensor cost spread over useful life
Total Annual Overhead
—
All fixed costs excluding income target
Break-Even Rate
—
Minimum to cover overhead only — no income
Recommended Rate
—
Covers overhead + your income target
Rate with 15% Profit Buffer
—
Recommended rate + profit cushion

Build up a defensible quote for any job. Set your rates once, then dial in job-specific details to arrive at a fair, justified price.

Your Rates
$/hr
$/hr
Typical: $50–$85 photo · $65–$150 video
Travel Billing
Job Details
hrs
hrs
$
Permits, access fees, consumables
Mission Modifiers
Low-Light or Night Operations
+30% to base rate
Extended Range Operations
+50% to base rate
Restricted / Complex Operational Area
+15% to base rate
High Complexity Mission
+20% to base rate
Cost Breakdown
On-Site Labor
—
Processing Labor
—
Travel Cost
—
Out-of-Pocket
—
Final Pricing
%
Square/Stripe ~2.9% · Cash/ACH = 0%
% of fair
Don't accept below this % of your fair price
Processor Fee
—
Fair Price
—
Full defensible rate for this job
Walk-Away Floor (75%)
—
Do not go below this number

Got a flat-rate offer from a network or client? Enter the job details to see if the margin holds up after your real costs are accounted for.

Your Rates
$/hr
$/hr
The Offered Job
$
What the client or network is offering
hrs
hrs
mi
Travel cost calculated at IRS mileage rate
$
True Cost Breakdown
On-Site Labor Value
—
Processing Labor Value
—
Travel Cost
—
Out-of-Pocket
—
Offer vs. Cost
Offered Rate
—
Your True Cost
—
Gross Profit
—
Margin
—
Verdict
—
Enter job details to see verdict.
Guideline: ≥25% margin = take it  ·  10–24% = negotiate  ·  <10% = walk away

Industry rate reference compiled from 2025–2026 market data. Use as context — your rates should always be anchored to your own cost calculation in the Rate Builder tab.

Service
Rate Range
Notes
Market modifiers to apply to base rates: Urban metro +20–30%  ·  Rural market −10%  ·  Entry-level −30%  ·  Specialist / certified +25%  ·  Low-light / night ops +30%  ·  Extended range +50%  ·  Enterprise / industrial client +15–35%  ·  Network gig vs. direct booking −20%  ·  Retainer / recurring −10–15% (offset by volume stability)
All calculations are estimates based on your inputs. Verify with your accountant and local market data before setting final rates.