Pricing Your Real Estate Packages
How Much Should You Charge?
This is the question every new drone pilot asks. The answer depends on your market, your quality, and your business model, but here’s a framework that works.
The $100/Hour Framework
Aim for $100 per hour across every step of the process:
| Activity | Hours | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Client meeting & planning | 1 | $100 |
| Round-trip travel | 1 | $100 |
| On-site shooting | 2 | $200 |
| Editing & post-production | 3 | $300 |
| Delivery & social posting | 1 | $100 |
| Total | 8 hours | $800 |
This is a complete package, from first call to delivered files. An $800 project rate for a full aerial video + photos package is reasonable in most metro markets.
Quote the client $800 for the project, not $100/hour. Fixed pricing gives them cost certainty and rewards you for getting faster. If you get so good that you can do the whole thing in 5 hours, your effective rate goes from $100/hr to $160/hr without raising prices.
Package Tiers
Offering 2-3 tiers makes pricing easier and lets clients self-select:
| Package | What’s Included | Price Range |
|---|---|---|
| Basic | Aerial photos only (15-20 edited images) | $200-$350 |
| Standard | Aerial photos + 60-90 sec video | $400-$600 |
| Premium | Photos + video + social cuts + twilight shoot | $600-$1,000 |
The Standard package is your bread and butter. Most realtors will choose it. The Basic exists as a budget option that still wins you the job. Premium is for luxury listings.
Recurring Client Discounts
When a realtor commits to sending you multiple properties per month, offer a discount:
- 3+ properties/month: $800 drops to $700 per property
- 5+ properties/month: $800 drops to $650 per property
- Exclusive contract: $800 drops to $600 per property
You’re trading margin for predictable revenue and zero marketing cost per job. That’s a good trade.
Always offer the complete package: shooting + editing + delivery. Don’t let the realtor handle editing separately. You lose creative control, and a poorly edited video with your footage attached hurts your reputation. Control the entire creative process.
Should You Offer Drone-Only (No Editing)?
Some realtors will ask: “Can I just get the raw footage? My brother-in-law edits videos.”
The professional answer is no. Here’s why:
- Your name is associated with the final product, even if someone else edited it
- You lose control over quality. A bad edit makes your footage look bad.
- You’re leaving money on the table (editing is 40% of the value)
- The realtor is paying for a result, not raw materials
If they insist, charge 60% of your full package price for drone-only. You’re still spending the same time on planning, travel, and shooting.
What About $200-$300 Videos?
You’ll see pilots advertising real estate videos for $200-$300. The math doesn’t work:
At $200 per property, you need 20+ properties per month to earn $4,000. That’s 160+ hours of work per month (8 hours per property), essentially a full-time job at low rates. You’ll burn out.
Price based on the value you deliver. Realtors who understand professional aerial footage will pay $600-$800. The ones who want $200 videos aren’t your target client.
Quick Check
Q: What’s the target hourly rate for real estate drone work? A: $100/hour across all activities: planning, travel, shooting, editing, and delivery.
Q: Why quote project rates instead of hourly? A: Project rates give clients cost certainty and reward you for efficiency.
Q: Should you sell raw footage without editing? A: Ideally no. You lose creative control and the final product may not represent your best work. If they insist, charge 60% of the full package price.
What’s Next?
Pricing is set. Let’s close with strategies for landing real estate clients and building a sustainable business.
Build a profitable drone business with Pilot Institute.