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Drone held in hand, registration number on the shellFAADroneZone · $5

Federal rules · In depth

Drone registration, step by step

One number decides it: 250 grams. Here is exactly when you must register, and the ten-minute FAADroneZone process.

All drone laws

The short answer: register if your drone weighs 250 grams or more, or if you fly it for any commercial purpose, in which case weight doesn't matter. Registration costs $5, lasts three years, and takes about ten minutes at FAADroneZone. Below is exactly when you must register and how to do it.

Key facts

Threshold (recreational)
Register if 250 g (0.55 lb) or heavier; under 250 g is exempt
Threshold (Part 107)
Every drone must be registered, regardless of weight
Cost
$5
Validity
3 years, then renew
Coverage
Recreational: one registration covers all your drones. Part 107: per-drone.
Where
FAADroneZone: faadronezone.faa.gov
Minimum age to register
13 (an adult registers for younger flyers)
Marking
Registration number must show on the drone's exterior

Do you have to register?

Two things decide it: how much your drone weighs and why you're flying.

Recreational

Only drones 250 g (0.55 lb) and heavier need registration. A drone under 250 g, like a DJI Mini, is exempt when flown purely for fun. One $5 registration covers every recreational drone you own.

Commercial (Part 107)

Every drone must be registered, no matter how light, even a sub-250 g drone. Part 107 registration is per-drone, so each aircraft gets its own $5 registration and number.

The 250-gram line is the one number to remember

Sub-250 g recreational drones skip registration and Remote ID. The instant that same drone flies for a business purpose, both kick in. Weight only exempts recreational flyers.

How to register at FAADroneZone

  1. 1

    Confirm you need to register

    Use the thresholds above: 250 g for recreational, any weight for Part 107.

  2. 2

    Create a FAADroneZone account

    Go to faadronezone.faa.gov and set up an account. You must be at least 13 to register; an adult registers for younger flyers.

  3. 3

    Pick your category

    Choose 'Exception for Recreational Flyers' or 'Fly sUAS under Part 107'. This determines whether one registration covers your whole fleet.

  4. 4

    Enter drone details and pay $5

    Add make and model, pay the $5 fee, and you'll get a registration number valid for three years.

  5. 5

    Mark the exterior

    Write, label, or engrave the registration number on an outside surface of the drone. Interior compartments are no longer allowed.

Register at FAADroneZone

The official FAA registration portal. Don't pay third-party sites that charge more than the $5 federal fee.

Go to FAADroneZone

Registration is not the same as Remote ID

Registering your drone is step one. Any drone that must be registered must also broadcast Remote ID. They're separate requirements that travel together.

Related rule

Remote ID

The three ways to comply once your drone is registered.

Tool

Do I need a license?

See registration, Remote ID, and license needs in one answer.

Sources

Rules current as of June 2026; verify at faa.gov/uas. Educational, not legal advice.