Legally, 400 feet above the ground in the US, for both recreational and Part 107 pilots. Near airports, the limit is whatever the FAA's facility map allows for that spot, which can be lower or zero. Part 107 pilots may go higher than 400 ft only while staying within 400 ft of a structure. Physically, DJI drones can climb far higher and can take off from 2,000 to 6,000 m above sea level, depending on the model.
The legal limits
| Situation | Max height |
|---|---|
| Recreational, uncontrolled (Class G) airspace | 400 ft above ground level (AGL) |
| Part 107, Class G airspace | 400 ft AGL |
| Part 107, inspecting a structure | Up to 400 ft above the structure's top, while within a 400 ft radius of it |
| Controlled airspace near airports | The LAANC grid altitude you're authorized for (0 to 400 ft) |
| Inside a TFR or restricted area | Usually none at all |
AGL means above the ground below the drone, not above your takeoff point. Flying off a cliff edge, you can be far more than 400 ft above the valley floor even if DJI Fly shows 100 m. Over hills, the reverse can happen.
How DJI Fly shows height
DJI Fly's altitude reading is height above the takeoff point. That's useful, but it isn't AGL:
- Launch from a hilltop and fly out over a valley, and your true AGL climbs.
- Launch from a valley and fly toward a ridge, and your AGL shrinks. Watch for terrain.
Set Settings > Safety > Max Altitude to 120 m (about 394 ft) as a guardrail, and keep in mind it doesn't follow terrain. See DJI altitude warning.
How high can DJI drones fly technically?
The spec that matters is maximum takeoff altitude: the highest elevation above sea level DJI says the drone can launch from.
| Drone | Max takeoff altitude (DJI) |
|---|---|
| DJI Neo | 2,000 m (6,562 ft) |
| Mini 3, Mini 4 Pro (standard battery) | 4,000 m (13,123 ft) |
| Avata 2 | 5,000 m (16,404 ft) |
| Mini 5 Pro, Air 3, Air 3S, Mavic 3 Pro, Mavic 4 Pro | 6,000 m (19,685 ft) |
| Matrice 4T / 4E | 6,000 m (19,685 ft) |
Accessories change this. The Mini 4 Pro drops to 3,000 m with the Battery Plus and 1,500 m with its propeller guard. Thin air also cuts flight time and braking. Model pages: Mini 4 Pro and Air 3S.
Automatic height caps
DJI drones also cap height on their own in some situations:
- Weak GPS. Several models hold to about 30 m above takeoff when satellite signal is weak and the light is good.
- Palm or phone control. The Neo and Flip are limited to 30 m high and 50 m away in those modes.
- GEO zones. Near some airports and restricted areas, DJI may limit height.
Why 400 feet?
Manned aircraft generally fly at 500 ft and above, except when taking off and landing. Keeping drones at or below 400 ft leaves a buffer. Helicopters, medical flights and agricultural aircraft can still fly lower, so always give way to manned aircraft and land if one approaches.
Can you get permission to fly higher?
- Part 107 waiver. The FAA can waive the 400 ft limit for specific operations. See Part 107 waivers.
- Recreational pilots can't get a waiver. 400 ft in Class G is the rule.
- In controlled airspace, Part 107 pilots can request more altitude than the grid shows through LAANC further coordination or DroneZone. See LAANC explained.
Common mistakes
- Treating DJI Fly's height as AGL in hilly terrain
- Climbing to 400 ft next to an airport where the grid says 100 ft
- Forgetting the 400 ft structure rule is Part 107 only
- Setting RTH altitude higher than your authorized altitude near an airport
Quick answers
What's the highest a consumer drone can fly? DJI's current Air and Mavic models can take off from up to 6,000 m above sea level. Legally you still stop at 400 ft above the ground.
Do sub-250 g drones have a different limit? No. The 400 ft limit applies to every drone.
Is 400 feet measured from where I stand? No, from the ground directly below the drone.
Rules current as of October 2026. This is general information, not legal advice.
Flying in mountains? Thin air favors larger drones like the Air 3S. For where you can fly at all, see drone no-fly zones.
Related guides
- How high can the DJI Air 3S fly? Altitude limit explained
- How high can the DJI Mavic 4 Pro fly? Altitude limit explained
- How high can the DJI Mini 4 Pro fly? Altitude limit explained
- Best long-range drones (and how far they really fly)
- Can you fly a drone at night? US rules and tips
- Can you fly a drone at the beach?
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