Whether you’re planning a proposal, a product launch, or a major concert, drone light shows are a cutting-edge way to make a visual statement. These synchronized aerial performances use fleets of LED-equipped drones to create stunning displays of light, color and animation in the sky. But before you get too excited, don’t forget to account for the actual drone light show cost.
So what exactly does it cost to book or build a drone light show? Here’s everything you need to know about drone light show pricing in 2025.
Everything you need to know about drone light show costs
Drone light show pricing overview
Drone light show prices are primarily based on the number of drones used. Most companies charge between $200 to $300 per drone, and shows typically start at a minimum of 100 drones, bringing base costs to around $20,000 to $30,000.
Of course all sorts of other factors also come into play, like quality of animations, region, etc. But in general, here’s how much you can expect to spend on a drone show:
General drone show cost breakdown
- Smaller shows (100 drones): $20,000 – $30,000
- Medium shows (300 drones): $60,000 – $90,000
- Large shows (500+ drones): $100,000 – $200,000+
These prices often include design, animation, FAA approvals and onsite operation — but setup, travel, or additional effects (like pyrotechnics, because yes, you can mount fireworks on drones) can often cost extra.
Average drone light show cost by region
I mentioned regional variations, and as it turns out, drone shows in some countries average much more expensive (and much more elaborate) than in others.
The 2024 Drone Show Market Analysis by SPH Engineering and Duamentes Global Alliance examined 1,000 shows in 62 countries. Here’s how regional pricing stacks up:
| Region | Avg. Show Cost | Avg. Drones Used | Avg. Cost per Drone |
|---|---|---|---|
| China | $114,564 | 660 | $175 |
| Middle East/North Africa | $112,250 | 401 | $316 |
| India | $91,700 | 396 | $330 |
| United Kingdom | $90,570 | 257 | $309 |
| Asia Pacific | $58,440 | 307 | $195 |
| North America | $52,455 | 218 | $233 |
| Europe | $42,034 | 182 | $227 |
| Latin America | $25,550 | 115 | $218 |
Now understand that these figures are based on how much is spent on drone shows. Notice that China spends the most on drone shows, but it also tends to put on larger, more elaborate shows (its average drone show includes 660 drones, versus just 115 drones used in the generally smaller drone shows in Latin America).
And often, price per drone does decrease slightly as shows get larger, as those fixed costs like travel and licensing tend to amortize better across drones. After all, China had the lowest average drone cost.
The cost of drone shows in the U.S. tend to sit somewhere in the middle, averaging about $50,000 per show. In the U.S., drone shows are popular for July Fourth, at theme parks, during baseball games and more.
In fact, I saw my first ever drone show at the end of a baseball game (shoutout Oakland A’s, which are no more). By the way, check out my saved Instagram stories for a behind-a-scenes look at the Oakland Athletics Star Wars Light Show.
Cost by drone light show company
Not every company charges the same per show. For example, Sky Elements is one of the top-tier drone show providers, offering custom animations with many awards and world records to its name (including multiple Guinness World Records ad a third place spot on America’s Got Talent Season 19).
Expect a show from an established company to generally cost more than, say, a small-town company that uses cookie-cutter drone show animations. And hey, a small, cookie-cutter show might be just fine, for say, an engagement where you just want a big engagement ring in drone form in the sky.
Here are some of the major drone companies in the U.S. and roughly how much they charge per show. Again, note that these are just estimates and final prices may vary based on your exact show features.
Sky Elements
- Starting cost: $15,000 for basic shows
- Typical cost: $30,000 – $200,000+
- Known for: LA Dodgers, Star Wars Night with Oakland A’s, Grammy drone show
- Location: Texas, USA
SkyWorx
- Cost per drone: $200–$400
- Show range: 100 to 1,000+ drones
- Services: Full creative and technical support
- Location: Idaho, USA
Verge Aero
- Show cost: $50,000 – $200,000
- Minimum drones: 100 (recommended 300+ for 3D shapes)
- Known for: AGT: Extreme, Electric Daisy Carnival, Presidential events
- Location: Texas, USA
What happened to Intel drone light shows?
While Intel was once a pioneer in drone light shows, it officially exited the industry and sold its technology to Nova Sky Stories. Intel’s legacy includes:
- 1,218 drones at the 2018 Winter Olympics
- 250 drones above the Bellagio at CES
- Super Bowl Halftime Show with Lady Gaga
- 2017 Coachella
- A recurring show during the 2016 holiday season at Walt Disney World
- In 2021, Intel drones flew in the shape of Baby Yoda for a Disney+ promotion.
Though no longer in existence today, Intel’s shows set the stage for today’s leaders like Nova Sky Stories, Sky Elements and Verge Aero.
Related read: Girls Who Drone teamup featuring Intel and the drone light show team
Other drone light show providers
- Nova Sky Stories: Founded by ex-Intel team, now one of the top providers
- Firefly: Sells hardware and show packages, even for DIYers
- Starlight Aerial: Known for the Kentucky Derby Festival
- EHang (China): Major player in global drone light shows, and has at various points held records for the largest drone light shows.
- Disney Disney’s drone show dominance primarily occurs over at Disneyland Paris, where it regularly operates in-house drone shows like “Disney D-Light” and Marvel-themed spectacles. Though exact shows vary by season. Disney also has experimented with drone light show at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida a few times, both at Disney Springs (once during the 2016 holiday season and again during the summer of 2024). And in 2023 over in Hong Kong, Disney marked the opening night of its new World of Frozen themed area park via a drone show.
- SKYMAGIC (Singapore): Handled New Year’s Eve London, Pokémon drone shows, Venice Biennale
Launching your own drone light show: DIY cost
If you’d rather run your own drone light shows, expect high upfront costs.
Drone costs
While you can theoretically design and build your own light show drone, most drone companies purchase ready-made light show drones.
UVify is the largest maker of light show drones, dominating the space with high-profile customers including Illumin (which was recently named the official drone light show provider for the City of Toronto), Sky Elements and Pixis Drones.
UVify charges roughly $1,585 per drone (though they won’t let you buy just one. Here’s a rough estimate of costs.
- UVify IFO drones: $1,585 per drone
- Starter fleet (50 drones): $79,250+
UVify provides turnkey packages, including hardware, software, support, and training. Mention code DGIFO for a 5% discount, a free battery, and upgraded props per drone.
Software & training
Many of the most popular drones on the market include their own software (as does UVify). However, other drone show software (or general animation software) can help fill in the gaps.
For basic training that adults can do at home, I recommend the Drone Light Show Course from Drone Dojo, which teaches you how to build a light show using the $900 PiHawk drone kit.
And then this is a fun thing. Increasingly more schools (ranging from middle school to college) offer drone light show courses. The best drone light show courses include ready-made curriculum and hardware kits with the drones and other tools you need to actually put on a drone show. You can find these through products such as the DroneBlocks Light Show Kit.
Custom drone show animations
High-end drone show companies that want to level up their animations will need custom drone show animations. Some companies have their own in-house animators. But that can be expensive (and impractical) to have on full-time staff.
In many cases, it can make more sense to hire companies to support with light show animations, such as Wow Drone. Wow Drones team can work with drone light show companies to build out a customized show, from storyboards and mockups to the final animation with flight path files ready to upload into your drones.
And how’s this for a deal? When you book with Wow Drone, you can get 10% off your first order by using promo code SALLYFRENCH_WOW.
Additional costs that go with drone shows
Whether you as the client pays for these things — or the drone show company you hire includes them in their overall cost — here are some additional drone show costs to account for.
- FAA waivers
- Drone insurance: though not required in the U.S. under FAA rules, many event spaces require drone insurance. Check with the property owner before booking a drone show.
- Safety staff and barriers
- Permitting and site rental
Drone light shows vs. fireworks
While fireworks remain cheaper — small-town displays can cost $2,000–$7,000 — drone shows offer creative flexibility and sustainability. Disney spends around $33,000 per fireworks show, comparable to some mid-range drone shows.
And of course, there are also the drone shows that literally include fireworks coming off the drones.
Why drones trump fireworks
- No noise pollution
- Safer for wildlife and dry environments (significantly less fire risk)
- More creative storytelling (logos, text, 3D shapes)
- Reusable equipment lowers cost over time
Many events are now blending fireworks and drones, like Disney’s Marvel drone shows in Paris.
Bringing a drone show to your event
Drone light shows are no longer just novelties — they’re centerpieces of proposals, sports events and brand activations. While costs remain high compared to traditional fireworks, the visual and environmental advantages are clear.
- Estimated minimum drone show cost: $20,000
- Most typical range: $50,000–$150,000
- DIY possible but expensive: ~$2,000 per drone, minimum 50 drones
- Big names: Sky Elements, Verge Aero, Nova Sky Stories, SkyWorx
The post How much does a drone light show cost in 2025? appeared first on The Drone Girl.