Why are you flying?
This sets the rules. Any payment or business purpose, even an unpaid photo for your own listing or a monetized video, counts as commercial (Part 107), and Part 107 requires registering every drone regardless of weight.
Educational, not legal advice. Rules current as of June 2026; verify before you fly at faa.gov/uas. Register at FAADroneZone. Sources: FAA drone registration (14 CFR Part 48), the Recreational Flyers exception (Section 44809), FAA Part 107, and Remote ID rules.
The direct answer
The 250-gram rule, in one paragraph
Flying purely for fun: registration is required only if your drone weighs 250 g (0.55 lb) or more, and one $5 registration covers every drone you fly. Flying under Part 107 (any business or payment): every drone must be registered, $5 each, regardless of weight. Registration lasts 3 years, the number goes on the outside of the aircraft, and a registered drone must broadcast Remote ID.
It costs $5. Anyone charging more is a middleman.
Search results for “register my drone” are full of third-party services charging $25–150 to file a 5-minute form, and some exist mainly to collect your personal information. The only official place to register is the FAA's own FAADroneZone portal — $5, direct, done.
The FAADroneZone flow, step by step
- 01
Create an account at FAADroneZone
faadronezone-access.faa.gov — the FAA's official registration portal. You need to be 13+ and a U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident (others register as a foreign operator).
- 02
Pick the right track
“Exception for Limited Recreational Operations” for fun-only flying (one $5 registration covers all your drones), or “Part 107” for commercial (register each drone, $5 apiece).
- 03
Pay the $5 and label the drone
Registration is valid for 3 years. Put the number on the outside of the aircraft — label maker or permanent marker both count.
- 04
Confirm Remote ID
A registered drone must broadcast Remote ID (built-in or module) or fly only inside a FRIA. Your drone's spec page will say “Standard Remote ID” if it's built in.
Full walkthrough with screenshots: how to register your drone. Related: Remote ID rules · do I need a license?
Common questions
Do I have to register my drone with the FAA?
It depends on weight and purpose. Recreational drones under 250 g are exempt. Recreational drones 250 g or heavier must be registered ($5, valid 3 years), and one registration covers all the drones you fly for fun. Under Part 107 (commercial), every drone must be registered individually regardless of weight.
How much does it cost to register a drone?
FAA drone registration costs $5 per registration and is valid for 3 years. Register at FAADroneZone (faadronezone-access.faa.gov). Recreational flyers pay one $5 fee that covers every drone they fly. Part 107 pilots pay $5 per drone.
Can I pay someone to register my drone for me?
You can, but you shouldn't. Third-party 'drone registration services' charge $25-150 for a form that takes about 5 minutes and $5 on the FAA's own site. Some are outright scams that harvest your personal information. The only official place to register is FAADroneZone.
Do I need to put my registration number on my drone?
Yes. The FAA requires your registration number to be displayed on the exterior of the drone, legible without tools. A label or permanent marker on the body is acceptable.
Does registering my drone mean I need Remote ID?
Yes. If your drone must be registered, it must also comply with Remote ID: either built-in Standard Remote ID, an add-on broadcast module, or flying only within an FAA-Recognized Identification Area (FRIA).
What happens if I fly an unregistered drone that requires registration?
Flying a drone that requires registration without registering it is a federal violation that can carry civil penalties, and the FAA can pursue criminal penalties in egregious cases. Given registration costs $5 and takes minutes, it is the cheapest compliance step in the hobby.
Verify with the FAA
Rules current as of July 2026. Educational, not legal advice — these are the primary sources this page is checked against: