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Well, it’s 2019 and we don’t have the hoverboards that Back to the Future promised us. The closest we’ve come to the kind of sci-fi technology that we adored in the ‘80s is drones, aka remotely controlled flying aircraft. They’re all the rage with kids and kids at heart right now, and the truth is that they can actually be a pretty great toy for kids of all ages, including beginners.
12 Best Drones For Kids, From Beginners To Pro Pilots
- Scoot Hands Free Mini Drone Helicopter
- UDI U46 Mini Drone For Kids
- Spacekey FPV Wi-Fi Drone With Camera
- DROCON GD60 Mini Drone RC Quadcopter
- Fitmaker RC Drone
- Sky Rider Hummingbird Mini Drone With Cage
- Spider-Man: Homecoming Spider Drone
- Monarch Hands Free Motion Controlled Mini Drone
- Drone Force Angler Attack
- Ixaer RC Drone With 200W Wi-Fi Camera RC Quadcopter
- HASAKEE FPV RC Drone With HD WiFi Camera
- Star Wars TIE Advanced x1 Battle Quad Drone
Drones come in every shape, size and price range imaginable, from small and light to heavy-duty and tricked out with the latest technologies. But what’s the best drone for your kid? The youngest pilots are best starting off with small, hand-controlled drones or ones that have their delicate rotors encased in a sturdy cage. Bigger kids can have a blast with drones that take HD pictures and videos while soaring overhead or are exact replicas of aircraft from their favorite superhero and action movies.
While drones can provide hours of fun and entertainment for the whole family, it’s important to remember to fly responsibly. And respect that the Federal Aviation Administration requires that many drones must be registered to be flown for both commercial and hobby purposes in the United States. Be sure to check your local laws and abide by all the safety rules and regulations when operating your drone.
Now that you’re ready for takeoff, check out our roundup of the hottest and best drones for kids.
Each product we feature has been independently selected and reviewed by our editorial team. If you make a purchase using the links included, we may earn commission.
Image Credits: Amazon
Scoot Hands Free Mini Drone Helicopter
This is the perfect way to introduce kids to the wonderful world of drones. It’s ideal for the youngest kiddos, because it’s a hand-operated indoor flying orb. There’s no remote control to contend with; instead, anyone can fly this gravity-defying toy with a wave of their hands. It’s recommended for ages 4 and up and uses high-tech, infrared motion sensors to detect its surroundings. Parents appreciate that Scoot can be fully charged in less than an hour, so the fun is never far away.
What Reviewers Are Saying:
This thing just starts exploring your whole living space! You do nothing! You can manipulate flight pattern by putting your hand close to the drone during flight. By far this is the coolest product ever.
Image Credits: Walmart
UDI U46 Mini Drone for Kids
This mini drone was made for first-time flyers. It’s an amazingly durable little drone that doesn’t require too much practice to get flying. The lightweight material makes it safe enough to be flown indoors, and the altitude-hold function allows you to set it to a specific height that’s suitable for kids to control. Parents appreciate that it’s got a one-key takeoff/landing/emergency stop feature to ensure everyone’s safety.
What Reviewers Are Saying:
We bought one of these for a grandson and when we got it we tried it out before we gave it to him and loved it. So we bought a second one so that Easter 2 grandkids could each have one. They love them and so far they work great. I'm going to buy some more for my nephews.
Image Credits: Amazon
Spacekey FPV Wi-Fi Drone with Camera
The power of this toy drone is at your fingertips. This sturdy beginner drone pairs up to an app so you can operate it from a smartphone. The altitude-hold function is pretty neat too, because it helps keep the drone at a fixed height until the pilot decides to move it elsewhere. And if you have any questions, there are plenty of YouTube demonstration and trouble-shooting videos. Bonus: The company has excellent customer service, with replacement parts being readily available on Amazon. All of that makes this one of the best drones under $100.
What Reviewers Are Saying:
First of all, I love its design! It feels durable and solid. I like how I can fold it, so it could fit in my pocket. It’s easy to assemble and ready to use. When I turned it on it paired immediately.
Image Credits: Amazon
DROCON GD60 Mini Drone RC Quadcopter
This tiny little drone packs a powerful punch! It’s even got an HD camera to capture live aerial videos to wow your friends and family. The easy-to-fly operating instructions make it a perfect pick for kids and beginners alike. It’s tiny and lightweight enough to fly into the smallest of spaces, and thanks to the “headless mode,” there’s no need to worry about which way it’s facing while flying. The three-speed control adapts to the user’s skill level, and kids will get a big kick out of watching it do flips and rolls and stunts high in the sky.
What Reviewers Are Saying:
I am a total novice. Never played with a drone before. Charged it, synced it and flew it my first try! I ran into the walls several times and crashed it into the ceiling. It fell to the floor and is completely undamaged!
Image Credits: Amazon
Fitmaker RC Drone
This is the best cheap drone that really lights up our lives! The easy-to-control 6-axis gyro quad drone comes to life thanks to brilliant LED strobe lights. Take note: That makes it super easy to find when it crashes. The mini drone has two speeds to adapt it for flying inside or outside. It is operated by an easy-to-hold remote control and the headless mode gives the user full maneuverability. Kids love to use this sturdy little drone for battles and races.
What Reviewers Are Saying:
My 9 year old son loves this! He’s spent many hours playing with it already. Fitmaker has awesome customer service!
Image Credits: Walmart
Sky Rider Hummingbird Mini Drone with Cage
If your little drone lover is also a terrible driver, then this is the drone of your dreams. The micro machine is enclosed in a protective frame that helps keep the propellers intact during crashes. Parents are amazed at how the honeycomb manages to extend the longevity of the high-tech toy. The four-inch design gives it the freedom to perform flips and tricks with two speed options from up to 98 feet away. It comes with a remote control and four replacement rotors.
What Reviewers Are Saying:
I bought this for my 8yr old nephew for Christmas and he loved it! He immediately crashed it into everything and it is still going strong! The cage looks really cool and definitely protects it. Really neat idea. It also steers really well when someone a little more stable flies it! Great price for a really standout gift.
Image Credits: Walmart
Spider-Man: Homecoming Spider Drone
If your little drone lover is also a terrible driver, then this is the drone of your dreams. The micro machine is enclosed in a protective frame that helps keep the propellers intact during crashes. Parents are amazed at how the honeycomb manages to extend the longevity of the high-tech toy. The four-inch design gives it the freedom to perform flips and tricks with two speed options from up to 98 feet away. It comes with a remote control and four replacement rotors.
What Reviewers Are Saying:
I bought this for my 8yr old nephew for Christmas and he loved it! He immediately crashed it into everything and it is still going strong! The cage looks really cool and definitely protects it. Really neat idea. It also steers really well when someone a little more stable flies it! Great price for a really standout gift.
Image Credits: Amazon
Monarch Hands Free Motion Controlled Mini Drone
Does your little princess also dream of being a pilot? This easy-to-fly, light-up butterfly drone is a beautiful way to introduce the technology to little girls or anyone who loves pretty pink things. Send it soaring with the one-button liftoff, then with just the tilt of a hand, watch as it flies for 5 to 7 minutes. Parents give it bonus points for how fast it recharges with a USB port.
What Reviewers Are Saying:
The learning curve to control this little drone is pretty fast and good for beginners and kids. My son can't stop playing and its a good thing that it comes with 2 batteries so one can be charging while the other is being used. Took it to the park and got lots of attention with people asking where to get it.
Image Credits: Amazon
Drone Force Angler Attack
A terror from the deepest, darkest depths of the sea takes to the skies! This awesome drone is shaped like a menacing angler fish with an eerie illuminated glow just like the real marine predator. Fans of the Disney flick Finding Dory are quite familiar with this freaky fish, and it’s sure to wow and amaze kids as it flies through the sky with flashing lights. Just don’t mistake this for a silly toy, it’s got a great camera to record videos both indoors and out.
What Reviewers Are Saying:
This is all my son talked about for weeks before Christmas. I figured it would be over priced and cheaply made, but I was wrong! This thing takes a beating, but it is still in great shape. My son loves it.
Image Credits: Amazon
Ixaer RC Drone with 200W Wi-FI Camera RC Quadcopter
All you really need to know about this high-tech drone is that it has a return home function. The fact that it will come back to exactly where it started when the battery gets low or the signal is weak is going to come in handy whether you’re a beginner or a pro. It’s also loaded up with headless mode, altitude hold and one-key takeoff and landing for the easiest possible operation. The HD camera takes stunning live videos that you can watch in real time from the screen of the remote controller. Trust us, this will take your family-photo selfie game to a whole new level.
What Reviewers Are Saying:
All I can say is that my nephew was absolutely flipped out with this drone. The look on his face was priceless as we got it set up and launched it. He crashed it a whole bunch of times and it didn’t fall apart at all. Oh and that return home feature came in handy when he flew it until the battery died.
Image Credits: Amazon
HASAKEE FPV RC Drone with HD WiFi Camera
Kids and parents say this cheerful drone is a top pick time and time again. The bumblebee-inspired black-and-yellow colors make it easy to spot in the air, and the kids camera allows them to capture stunning snapshots and videos all from the ease of a smartphone app. The sturdy, stable drone is perfect for newbies, novices and experts alike, thanks to the auto-hovering function and three speed controls. It even flips and rolls in any direction and can follow a custom-designed route, to boot!
What Reviewers Are Saying:
The drone is very smooth in flight and responsive to the controller, of cause at low wind condition, but with multiple speed modes I can just kick up the speed to high and flight through the wind easily. It holds its altitude well, helping me to film stably.
Image Credits: Bed Bath & Beyond
Star Wars TIE Advanced x1 Battle Quad Drone
You don’t need to be a Jedi from a galaxy far, far away to get your hands on this Star Wars drone. The hand-painted, high-quality machine can fly an impressive 35 mph and the Empire-black remote controller actually lights up, vibrates and makes noises to heighten the experience. This is the ultimate gift for Star Wars fans of any age because it’s able to sync up with multiple other Battle Quad drones to battle with infrared cannons.
What Reviewers Are Saying:
It is extremely fun to fly and is far more entertaining then I had hoped. The controller is sturdy and solid and the drone itself is much more durable then I anticipated.
