In recent years, drone light shows have become an indispensable complement to traditional fireworks displays.
On social networks, you have probably already spotted drones lighting up the sky for a festival, sporting event, or brand launch, forming perfectly synchronized animations and magnificent visual effects.
But when it comes to organizing one, one question always arises: how much does it really cost?
Prices have significantly changed between the first large-scale demonstrations orchestrated by big companies such as Intel and today's more accessible offerings from innovative companies like Drotek
We are going to take a look back at the evolution of the market, the main factors influencing rates, and the concrete costs of a show according to fleet size and the country in which it is carried out.
The very first drone light shows were launched by the American company Intel, marking the start of a new era in the world of visual entertainment.
The sight of hundreds of tiny points of light dancing across the sky in perfect synchronization certainly made an impression and laid the foundations for a fresh form of live entertainment.
Other pioneers soon followed. In France, companies such as Dronisos and Parrot quickly moved into the field, as did several Chinese firms.
At the time, the market was still extremely closed: very few solutions, highly specialized teams, and consequently high costs.
We were talking about €500 (~$570) per drone for a show, which could be negotiated down to approximately €400 (~$450), putting a 1,000-drone show in the €400,000 to €500,000 (~$450,000 - $570,000) range.
In other words, this type of service was reserved for a few big names, often as part of international ceremonies or marketing operations.
But despite this high-end positioning, the technology quickly found its audience.
The viral videos on social networks, the mystical dimension of the shows, and the precision of the renderings have attracted the attention of many players in the world of live performance.
Companies such as Groupe F, Crystal Drones, and LunatX have begun to explore this innovative format, helping to make drone light shows a trend in their own right.
Image by Crystal Drones
For several years, drone light shows were reserved for a small handful of actors who could afford the costs.
But the market has evolved, and the arrival of new solutions has led to a complete rethink of the business model for these types of events, giving rise to a “fair-price” solution for drone light shows in the Western hemisphere.
One of the first to provide these more affordable solutions is Latvia-based UGCS.
Their approach is based on an “open” model, which means they only supply the software and rely on external partners for the hardware part of their drone light show solution.
Their customers then depend on two separate suppliers, one for the software, the other for the hardware and drone, with offers around €1,500 (~$1,700) per drone, affordable to any company.
While this solution has widened access to the market, it is nevertheless constrained by the need to coordinate two independent structures.
This is where Drotek comes in as a supplier. By bringing hardware and software development together under one roof, we have designed a complete solution, designed to work seamlessly and without friction between the two essential pillars of the drone show.
This expertise in both fields enables us to evolve quickly in terms of technology and to provide a fully-fledged product range.
In concrete terms, this control has a direct effect on price: the average rate per drone at Drotek is currently around €870 (~$920).
This was a turning point that opened the door to new entrants to the drone light show operator market and began the true democratization of these events.
With the emergence of more affordable solutions, drone light shows are becoming more accessible and are beginning to spread far beyond large groups and institutional events.
More and more agencies, cities, and private companies are taking an interest, seduced by the visual impact and novelty of this format.
Falling costs have made this technology much more attractive, but its development is still sometimes held back by flight permits, for example - a factor that is often underestimated.
Each country has its own regulations and processing times. To overcome this obstacle, we support our customers in understanding and obtaining these authorizations, with specialized training to save precious time on administrative procedures.
The price of a drone light show offered by operators depends on several factors.
The main element to consider, and one that will influence your budget, is the number of drones you choose for your show. Obviously, the larger your fleet, the higher the cost.
At Drotek, we offer degressive pricing. The more drones you add to your fleet, the lower the unit rate. This allows you to aim for more ambitious drone shows, without necessarily blowing your budget.
If you want to build up your project gradually, you can start with 100 drones and then move up to 300 or more. We will support you in this evolution by anticipating future needs without overloading you from the start.
At Drotek, we offer a training program for creating your drone light shows.
This service brings your ideas to life, but requires special preparation depending on the complexity of your request.
A drone show with complex shapes (2D or 3D), animations, or complex transitions means more design work, and the budget will be directly impacted. A show synchronized with music or sound effects also requires more design work.
The duration of a show is linked to the flight capabilities of the drones. To extend the performance beyond a single flight cycle, it is necessary to plan a sequence of several swarms, which implies a more complex organization and can lead to increased costs.
The location of the show also influences a large part of the organization. A drone show in a dense urban environment, on a tourist site, in the mountains, or seaside, does not present the same constraints as a show in an open, easily accessible space.
Several elements enter into the budget: tracking the field, local authorization (regulatory procedures can sometimes involve variable costs depending on the country), team accommodation, transport of equipment... The more complex the environment, the greater the impact of logistics on the budget.
A drone show is already an event in its own right, but can be transformed into a broader experience by adding extra elements.
Lights, lasers, video mapping, pyrotechnics, staging, dancers, soundtracks: all these elements increase the technical and human requirements, but also enrich the experience.
These services, which are often the result of collaboration with specialized partners, must be taken into account right from the design phase to guarantee the artistic coherence and logistics of the show.
The prices offered by operators for a drone show vary according to the country and the level of local competition. Here are some realistic benchmarks for a 200-drone show:
1 to 3 market players:
• Price per drone: 200-250 €
• Total estimated cost for a show with 200 drones (excl. VAT): 40,000 to 50,000 €
4 to 6 market players:
• Price per drone: 150-200 €
• Total estimated cost for a show with 200 drones (excl. VAT): 30,000 to 40,000 €
7 to 15 market players:
• Price per drone: ~150 €
• Total estimated cost for a show with 200 drones (excl. VAT): 20,000 to 30,000 €
In general, a small fleet of 150 to 300 drones is enough to create the “wow” factor for the audience, provided that the drones are well used.
However, a fleet of up to 1,000 drones is always more impressive and is sure to be more memorable in the long term.
All you require to do is think carefully about the storytelling, the visual environment, and the animations performed by the drones.
An original operation site, such as a lake or a hill, can even enhance the visual effect while reducing technical requirements.
Fewer drones also mean lighter logistics, quicker approvals, and better budget control.
The price of a drone light show, including a fleet of 100 drones, varies on the number of players in the market in which you operate.
But in general, a typical drone show with 100 drones costs between $15,000 and $30,000 (or €10,000 to €30,000), depending on location, complexity, show duration and customization.
There is no "ideal" duration, but a drone light show lasts approximately 15 minutes.
This may seem brief, but it all relies on the show's ability to capture the audience's attention with its animations, shapes, and general atmosphere.
There are several ways of extending your drone show, such as providing another fleet to take over at the end of the 15 minutes or opting for XL batteries with higher capacity.
With its high-capacity battery, the IO STAR 3 drone provides a flight time of 30-35 minutes, ideal for longer shows.
Yes, of course, drone shows are legal in many countries, but their authorization depends on national regulations and, in some cases, constantly evolving international standards.
Each country has its own rules, generally laid down by the national civil aviation authority. Common requirements include :
Professional drone pilot licenses
Specific flight authorizations for night shows or in urban areas
Civil liability insurance
Respect for safety distances from the public and prohibited areas (airports, sensitive sites)
Drotek is a French company located in South of France. The group has 2 poles of expertise : Electronics – Drone Light Show
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