424,516
active commercial drone registrations
The FAA counted 424,516 active nonrecreational small drones in the Part 107 registry at the end of 2025.
Source: FAA UAS Compendium 2026-2046, December 2025 actuals ↗Reference data
U.S. commercial drone statistics
Current FAA figures on commercial drone registrations, remote pilot certificates and the size of the Part 107 fleet.
Last updated August 17, 2026. The latest actual FAA figures on this page are through December 2025.
+24,000
active registrations in one year
The active commercial registry grew by 24,000 aircraft from the end of 2024 to the end of 2025.
Source: FAA UAS Compendium 2026-2046, December 2025 actuals ↗1.07M
cumulative commercial registrations
More than one million aircraft had been registered in the Part 107 registry by the end of 2025; the FAA lists 1,074,451 cumulative registrations.
Source: FAA UAS Compendium 2026-2046, December 2025 actuals ↗540,845
projected active commercial drones by 2030
The FAA base forecast projects the active nonrecreational small-drone fleet to reach 540,845 aircraft by the end of 2030.
Source: FAA UAS Compendium 2026-2046, 2030 base forecast ↗493,396
remote pilot certificates issued
The FAA reported 493,396 remote pilot certifications issued as of December 2025.
Source: FAA UAS Compendium 2026-2046, December 2025 actuals ↗+70,000
new remote pilot certificates year over year
Remote pilot certifications increased by more than 70,000 from December 2024 to December 2025.
Source: FAA UAS Compendium 2026-2046, December 2025 actuals ↗78%
hold only a Part 107 remote pilot certificate
The remaining 22% of FAA remote pilots also held a Part 61 pilot certificate.
Source: FAA UAS Compendium 2026-2046, December 2025 actuals ↗628,600
projected remote pilots by 2030
The FAA projects 628,600 remote pilots by 2030, a 28.0% increase from its 2025 count.
Source: FAA UAS Compendium 2026-2046, 2030 forecast ↗126,000
new commercial drone registrations in 2025
The FAA recorded 126,000 new Part 107 drone registrations during 2025, before expirations and cancellations are removed from the active total.
Source: FAA UAS Compendium 2026-2046, 2025 actuals ↗8,510
average monthly registration expirations or cancellations
The FAA estimates an average of 8,510 nonrecreational registrations expired or were cancelled each month during 2025.
Source: FAA UAS Compendium 2026-2046, 2025 actuals ↗1.16
remote pilots per active commercial drone
The FAA reported 1.16 remote pilots for every active commercial drone in 2025, using its active Part 107 registration count.
Source: FAA UAS Compendium 2026-2046, 2025 actuals ↗$5
Part 107 registration fee per drone
Commercial drone registration costs $5 and remains valid for three years; each aircraft is registered separately for Part 107 work.
Source: FAA commercial operator guidance, updated March 25, 2025 ↗What the numbers mean
A larger field makes planning matter more.
Commercial drone work spans property, construction, inspection, mapping and public-sector assignments. The FAA figures show that the Part 107 field is growing, while the requirements for certified pilots, aircraft registration and airspace planning remain central to every professional assignment.
For a project in South Florida, West Boca Aerial Photography plans aerial photography, mapping and inspection coverage around the site, the intended use and the people who need the finished material.
Explore construction and mapping →How this page is maintained
This page reports named FAA figures rather than third-party market estimates. Actual counts are labeled with the reporting date, and projections are identified as FAA forecasts. It will be reviewed when the FAA releases updated commercial drone or remote pilot data.
- FAA Unmanned Aircraft Systems Compendium, fiscal years 2026-2046, accessed August 17, 2026 ↗
- FAA guidance for certificated remote pilots and commercial operators, updated March 25, 2025 ↗
Cite this page
West Boca Aerial Photography. “U.S. Commercial Drone Statistics.” Updated August 17, 2026. https://wbaerialphoto.com/drone-industry-statistics