Commercial Drone Industry Overview

The global commercial drone market size was estimated at USD 19.89 billion in 2022 and is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 13.9% from 2023 to 2030. The market growth is attributed to the increasing enterprise application of drones across various industry verticals. Several drone manufacturers are continually testing, inventing, and upgrading solutions for diverse markets. Besides, the integration of modern technologies in commercial drones to deliver enhanced solutions is opening new growth opportunities for the commercial drone industry. The business use cases of commercial drones have expanded significantly over the past few years.

Drones are increasingly adopted in the construction and real estate sectors due to their ability to survey a property, offer constant and exact project alerts, increase safety, and prevent harmful accidents on construction sites. Moreover, their conventional applications, such as monitoring, surveillance, and security, have boosted the product demand for search and rescue operations, identifying unstable roofs in dangerous and inaccessible positions, and inspecting elevated infrastructure that might damage equipment such as electrical cables.

Gather more insights about the market drivers, restrains and growth of the Global Commercial Drone Market

Detailed Segmentation:

Product Insights

The rotary blade segment held the largest revenue share of over 79% in the commercial drone market in 2022. The demand for rotary blade drones is anticipated to surge for inspection activities owing to their ability to hover and execute agile maneuvering while maintaining a visual on a particular target for prolonged periods. These drones are often seen as a suitable alternative for various business applications such as surveillance, filmmaking, photography, and monitoring. In addition, they are easier to control than hybrid and fixed-wing counterparts.

Application Insights

The commercial application segment accounted for a revenue share of over 73% in 2022. Applications such as filming & photography are increasingly using drones for key shots in movies. Photographers are rapidly adopting drones and these drones are quickly becoming a vital element of professional photography. Companies such as DJI are developing small drone cameras capable of capturing high-quality images for professional photographers. The elevated procurement of drones for aerial cinematography and photography such as the Autel EVO II, Parrot Anafi FPV, DJI Mavic 2 Pro, DJI Mini 2, and DJI Mavic 2 Zoomisre likely to fuel segment growth.

End-use Insights

The media & entertainment segment accounted for a market share of over 22% in 2022 and is expected to record notable growth over the forecast period. Drones have numerous applications in media and entertainment. Filmmakers are now using professional drones for the most cost-effective and exact frame capture possible. The increasing demand from clients and owners for aerial photography to advertise amusement parks, public spaces, tourist attractions, hotels, and resorts is expected to drive the segment's expansion.

Range Insights

The visual line of sight (VLOS) segment accounted for the largest market share of over 69% in 2022. The varying legislations and regulations regarding the operation of commercial drones are key factors for the segment. Similarly, the ease of flying drones in a visual line of sight is popular due to the ability to avoid obstacles and other hindrances. Thus, the segment dominated the commercial drone industry.

Operating Mode Insights

The remotely piloted segment accounted for the largest market share of over 59% in 2022. The existing popularity of remotely piloted commercial drones in applications such as agriculture, videography, surveillance, and more, is attributed to the dominance of the segment. In addition, remote pilots operating commercial drones satisfy the need for manual operation and intervention in times of distress. This, in turn, is expected to drive the segment demand positively.

Endurance Insights

The <5 hours segment accounted for the largest market share of over 70% in 2022. Commercial drones carrying payloads and equipment for various applications such as pesticide spraying and surveillance, among others, are expected to add to the segment’s growth. Also, the popularity of affordable drones in this segment is a key factor for its high demand.

Maximum Takeoff Weight Insights

The <25 kg segment accounted for the largest market share of 81% in 2022. This is credited to the operational flexibility and easy operational functionality of such drones. Moreover, the takeoff weight makes the drone suitable for a wide range of applications while adhering to stringent regulations. Similarly, drones are capable of maneuverability in compact areas while maintaining efficient flight capabilities that are expected to add to the segment demand.

Propulsion Type Insights

The hybrid segment is expected to grow at the fastest CAGR of 14.4% over the forecast period. The segment growth can be attributed to the trend of efficient power solutions in drones with the use of gasoline and electric type in hybrid solutions. In addition, the advantage of improved flight performance in relation to the distance and stability offered by hybrid propulsion is a key factor contributing to growth.

Regional Insights

The North America region is expected to grow at a significant CAGR of 9.9% over the forecast period, owing to the ongoing advancements in drone technology, favorable government initiatives, and growing demand from enterprises across numerous industries. For instance, in the U.S., the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued new regulations to create more coherent and consistent standards for the legal and safe operation of UAVs in commercial spaces. These rules and regulations are anticipated to decrease entry barriers and boost product usage, thereby favoring market expansion further.

Browse through Grand View Research's Category Next Generation Technologies Industry Research Reports.

• The global ultrafast laser market size was estimated at USD 1.96 billion in 2023 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 16.4% from 2024 to 2030. 

• The global AI enhanced HPC market size was valued at USD 2.60 billion in 2023 and is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 9.4% from 2024 to 2030. 

Key Companies & Market Share Insights

The key players operating in the commercial drone market are focusing on developing innovative solutions to attract a large customer base and gain a competitive edge in the industry. In January 2023, Autel Robotics launched EVO Max 4T drone, a sophisticated and highly innovative flying platform that is suitable for both business and consumer applications. It provides considerable navigational and self-reliance capabilities due to high-end autonomous flying technology and Artificial Intelligence. It also comes with tri-anti-interference and omnidirectional obstacle avoidance capabilities that ensure flight safety and stability in high-interference environments. Some prominent players in the global commercial drone market include:

• Aeronavics Ltd.
• AeroVironment Inc.
• Autel Robotics
• SZ DJI Technology Co Ltd
• Draganfly Innovations Inc.
• Guangzhou EHang Intelligent Technology Co. Ltd
• Intel Corporation
• Parrot Drones SAS
• PrecisionHawk Inc.
• YUNEEC International

Segments Covered in the Report

Grand View Research has segmented the global commercial drone market based on product, application, end-use, propulsion type, range, operating mode, endurance, maximum takeoff weight, and region:

Commercial Drone Product Outlook (Volume, Thousand Units; Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030)

• Fixed wing
• Hybrid
• Rotary blade

Commercial Drone Application Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030)

• Commercial
  • Filming & Photography
  • Inspection & Maintenance
  • Mapping & Surveying
  • Precision Agriculture
  • Surveillance & Monitoring
  • Others
• Government & Law Enforcement
  • Firefighting & Disaster Management
  • Search & Rescue
  • Maritime Security
  • Border Patrol
  • Police Operations
  • Traffic Monitoring
  • Others

Commercial Drone End-use Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030)

• Agriculture
• Delivery & Logistics
• Energy
• Media & Entertainment
• Real Estate & Construction
• Security & Law Enforcement
• Others

Commercial Drone Propulsion Type Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030)

• Gasoline
• Electric
• Hybrid

Commercial Drone Range Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030)

• Visual Line of Sight (VLOS)
• Extended Visual Line of Sight (EVLOS)
• Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS)

Commercial Drone Operating Mode Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030)

• Remotely Piloted
• Partially Piloted
• Fully Autonomous

Commercial Drone Endurance Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030)

• <5 Hours
• 5 - 10 Hours
• >10 Hours

Commercial Drone Maximum Takeoff Weight Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030)

• <25 Kg
• 25 - 500 Kg
• >500 Kg

Commercial Drone Regional Outlook (Volume, Thousand Units; Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030)

• North America
  • U.S.
  • Canada
• Europe
  • Germany
  • UK
  • France
  • Italy
  • Spain
  • Ireland
  • Sweden
  • Denmark
  • Norway
  • Finland
• Asia Pacific
  • China
  • Japan
  • South Korea
  • Australia
• Latin America
  • Brazil
  • Mexico
• Middle East & Africa (MEA)
  • UAE
  • South Africa 

Order a free sample PDF of the Commercial Drone Market Intelligence Study, published by Grand View Research.