Drones / UAV · Tool
Drone Flight Time Calculator
Realistic flight-time estimate for any multirotor — uses hover efficiency (g/W), pack voltage, ESC efficiency, usable-capacity derating and a flight-style multiplier instead of the naive mAh ÷ current formula.
Inputs
auw_gramsRequirednumber (g)All-Up Weight (AUW)
required · min 20 · max 50000 · default 680
Total flying weight including battery, camera, GPS, antennas — everything that leaves the ground.
required · min 20 · max 50000 · default 680
Total flying weight including battery, camera, GPS, antennas — everything that leaves the ground.
battery_capacity_mahRequirednumber (mAh)Battery Capacity
required · min 100 · max 50000 · default 1500
required · min 100 · max 50000 · default 1500
battery_cells_sRequiredenumBattery Cells
required · default "4" · one of: 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 12
Series cell count. 4S = 14.8 V nominal, 6S = 22.2 V nominal. Higher S means more voltage, less current for the same power.
required · default "4" · one of: 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 12
Series cell count. 4S = 14.8 V nominal, 6S = 22.2 V nominal. Higher S means more voltage, less current for the same power.
hover_efficiency_g_per_wRequirednumber (g/W)Hover Efficiency
required · min 1 · max 20 · default 6
Grams of static thrust produced per watt at the hover point. Tinywhoop ~3, 5" race ~5, 5" cinematic ~7, 7" long-range ~9, 10" cinelifter ~11. Pull from your motor manufacturer's thrust table.
required · min 1 · max 20 · default 6
Grams of static thrust produced per watt at the hover point. Tinywhoop ~3, 5" race ~5, 5" cinematic ~7, 7" long-range ~9, 10" cinelifter ~11. Pull from your motor manufacturer's thrust table.
flight_styleRequiredenumFlight Style
required · default "cinematic" · one of: hover, cinematic, freestyle, racing
Determines the average power above hover. Hover-only is the upper bound, racing the lower.
required · default "cinematic" · one of: hover, cinematic, freestyle, racing
Determines the average power above hover. Hover-only is the upper bound, racing the lower.
usable_capacity_pctRequirednumber (%)Usable Capacity
required · min 40 · max 100 · default 80
Fraction of nameplate capacity you actually use before landing. Landing at 3.5 V/cell typically leaves ~80% usable; 3.7 V/cell leaves ~70%.
required · min 40 · max 100 · default 80
Fraction of nameplate capacity you actually use before landing. Landing at 3.5 V/cell typically leaves ~80% usable; 3.7 V/cell leaves ~70%.
esc_efficiency_pctRequirednumber (%)ESC Efficiency
required · min 70 · max 99 · default 92
Combined motor + ESC electrical efficiency. Modern BLHeli_32 + quality motors hover around 90–94%.
required · min 70 · max 99 · default 92
Combined motor + ESC electrical efficiency. Modern BLHeli_32 + quality motors hover around 90–94%.
Outputs
pack_voltage_nominal_vnumber (V)Pack Voltage (nominal)
pack_energy_whnumber (Wh)Pack Energy
usable_energy_whnumber (Wh)Usable Energy
hover_power_wnumber (W)Hover Power
hover_current_anumber (A)Hover Current
avg_power_wnumber (W)Average Power
flight_time_minutesnumber (min)Flight Time
min_pack_c_continuousnumber (C)Min Pack C (Continuous)
style_multipliernumber (x)Style Multiplier
Example request
curl -X POST https://toolsamurai.com/api/v1/drones-uav/drone-flight-time-calculator \ -H "Authorization: Bearer sk_free_•••••••••••••••" \ -H "Content-Type: application/json" \ -d '{ "auw_grams": 680, "battery_capacity_mah": 1500, "battery_cells_s": "4", "hover_efficiency_g_per_w": 6, "flight_style": "cinematic", "usable_capacity_pct": 80, "esc_efficiency_pct": 92 }'
Example response
{ "ok": true, "tool": "drone-flight-time-calculator", "domain": "drones-uav", "version": "1.0.0", "result": { "pack_voltage_nominal_v": …, "pack_energy_wh": …, "usable_energy_wh": …, "hover_power_w": …, "hover_current_a": …, "avg_power_w": …, "flight_time_minutes": …, "min_pack_c_continuous": …, "style_multiplier": … }, "meta": { "latency_ms": …, "request_id": "req_…" } }