The 7 Best Hexacopters
Updated by · How we research
Six-rotor drones you can still buy are mostly build kits. We compared seven hexacopter frames and kits, and the FPVDrone S550 frame is our top pick. When users buy our independently chosen editorial choices, we may earn commissions to help fund the Wiki.
Ready-to-fly hexacopters have nearly vanished from consumer shelves: DJI's Matrice 600 Pro and Yuneec's six-rotor models are out of production, and the ones still made are enterprise machines. For hobbyists, students and camera builders, a hexacopter today starts as a kit. Six rotors buy extra lift and a chance to land safely if one motor quits.
Editor's Notes
November 1, 2026, by Ezvid Wiki Editors:
Not one hexacopter from the earlier version survived. The DJI Matrice 600 Pro and Yuneec H920 Plus are out of production, Makeblock retired the Airblock, and the MJX X600, Mota Pro Live-5000 and Hobbypower kit have vanished from stores. A ready-to-fly six-rotor drone now means an enterprise machine at an enterprise price, so this page covers what a hobbyist can still get: frames and kits to build one.
The FPVDrone S550 leads because its carbon-cored arms and built-in power board make a solid base for whatever parts you choose. If you'd rather order the flight controller, motors and speed controllers in one go, the REC S550 Value Pack is the pick, though its buyer feedback is mixed. Nobody has published a test of these frames, so we worked from the sellers' parts lists, ArduPilot's frame documentation and forum threads on motor failures, and a magazine review of DJI's original F550, the design most of the 550 frames copy.
The two old special honors were eight-rotor machines, so they're out. A U.S.-built heavy-lift hexacopter and the free ArduPilot software take their place.
Earlier notes
May 1, 2020, by Brett Dvoretz:
While there are a plethora of quadcopters in every price range available on the market, the selection of hexacopters is a different story. In fact, there are very few, if any ready-to-fly high- or mid-grade hobbyists models available, which is why they are notably absent from this list.
For professional photographers and cinematographers, we have the Yuneec H920 Plus and DJI Matrice 600 Pro. Despite coming for a lower price, though far from what could be considered affordable for the average person, the H920 Plus comes with a premium camera capable of shooting 4K video and 16MP stills. Conversely, you'll have to buy a camera separately with DJI Matrice 600 Pro. That being said, the latter offers a bigger payload and higher top speed than the Yuneec, so if you have the money and need to record fast-moving subjects, it is probably a better choice. Both fold up for transport and can continue to fly if one motor fails.
On the opposite end of the spectrum we have a few budget-priced, hobby-grade models. These are the MJX X600, Makeblock Airblock, and Mota Pro Live-5000. Generally, most drones should never be piloted by kids younger than 14 years old due to the possibility of injuring themselves or others. That being said, the Makeblock Airblock is actually designed for children as young as eight. This is partially due to its dense foam construction, and partially due to the thick prop guards. Much more than a simple hexacopter, it boasts the ability to be configured as a hovercraft, as well as a variety of other custom forms, and it assembles and disassembles easily via magnets. Additionally, it also offers the ability to program your own stunts on the associated app, helping to teach kids basic coding skills. It would make a great accompaniment to other coding toys and programmable robots.
Falling in between the two categories above, we have the Hobbypower DIY F550, which is a build-it-yourself kit. This one is best suited for people who enjoy tinkering with things and have the patience and interest in putting something together themselves. It must be noted that you'll have to buy additional items to get this hexacopter up and flying, as the kit doesn't include a radio control system or a battery.
Special Honors
Inspired Flight IF1200 If you need a finished, ready-to-fly hexacopter for professional work, the IF1200 from Inspired Flight is one of the few still made. The company builds and supports it in the U.S., and it lists a payload of up to 19 pounds and flight times of up to 43 minutes, depending on load. It's sold through dealers at enterprise prices, for mapping, inspection and film work. inspiredflight.com
ArduPilot ArduPilot is free, open-source autopilot software that runs on Pixhawk-type flight controllers, including the kind in many hexacopter kits. It has ready settings for six-rotor frames, documents motor order and spin direction for each layout, and has an active forum where builders troubleshoot tuning and motor failures. ardupilot.org
Why Six Rotors, And What They Cost You
Compared with a quadcopter of the same size, the extra pair gives more lift, so it can carry a heavier camera, and it holds steadier in wind.
A hexacopter is a multirotor drone with six motors and propellers. Compared with a quadcopter of the same size, the extra pair gives more lift, so it can carry a heavier camera, and it holds steadier in wind. Battery maker Grepow puts hobby hexacopters at roughly 2 to 22 pounds of lift and industrial ones at 44 pounds or more (Grepow).
The best-known benefit is a chance to survive a motor failure. In a video discussed on the ArduPilot forum, a hexacopter with plenty of spare power keeps flying after losing a motor, while one with little reserve sinks. That safety margin depends on your build: enough thrust to spare, a flight controller set up for six rotors, and a pilot who lands right away.
The costs are real too. Six motors and six speed controllers weigh more and cost more than four, and they drain the battery faster, so a hexacopter usually flies for less time than a quadcopter on the same pack. If you only want aerial photos, a ready-made quadcopter is simpler. A hexacopter makes sense when you need the lift or the extra margin.
What A Hexacopter Build Needs
Most hobby builds start from a 550-millimeter frame, measured motor to motor. The F550 design comes from DJI's Flame Wheel, which Model Aviation reviewed in 2012: its bottom plate is a circuit board that spreads power from one battery plug to all six speed controllers. The S550 adds longer landing legs and, on many versions, carbon-reinforced arms. These frames suit 10-inch propellers and three- or four-cell batteries.
Larger carbon frames, from about 600 to 850 millimeters, take 11- to 16-inch propellers and bigger motors. They're for heavier cameras, mapping sensors and longer flights, and they cost more to fill with parts.
Every frame needs the same set of parts: six motors matched to your propellers, six speed controllers, a flight controller, a GPS unit if you want it to hold position, a radio and receiver, a lithium-polymer battery and a balance charger. Free ArduPilot software shows the motor order and spin direction for each six-rotor layout. Getting one motor backward is the most common reason a first build flips on takeoff.
Registration, Remote ID And Battery Safety
Every hexacopter here weighs far more than 250 grams (0.55 pounds) once built, so in the U.S. it must be registered with the FAA before it flies (FAA). Recreational pilots also need to pass the free TRUST safety test, and anyone flying for pay needs a Part 107 remote pilot certificate (FAA recreational flyers).
A homebuilt drone also has to broadcast Remote ID. Since you can't buy one with it built in, the usual answer is a small add-on broadcast module tied to your registration; the other choice is to fly only at an FAA-recognized identification area, such as some club fields (Pilot Institute).
In December 2025 the FCC added foreign-made drones and key drone parts to its Covered List, which blocks new equipment approvals. Parts already approved can still be sold and flown, according to DroneXL, but check before you buy radios or flight controllers for a new build.
The big fire risk is the battery. Charge lithium-polymer packs on a nonflammable surface or in a fireproof bag, never leave them charging unattended, and retire any pack that puffs up.
How we researched this
We compared 18 hexacopters, frames and build kits, including the six from the earlier list, read each seller's parts list, ArduPilot's frame documentation and forum threads, a magazine review of the original F550 frame and FAA and FCC rules for homebuilt drones, looked at owner feedback where there was enough of it, and checked the brands for recalls with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.
Sources (10)
- Grepow: What is a hexacopter drone
- ArduPilot forum: hexacopter motor failure demonstration
- ArduPilot: connect ESCs and motors
- Model Aviation: DJI Flame Wheel F550 review (2012)
- FAA: register your drone
- FAA: recreational flyers
- Pilot Institute: homebuilt Remote ID rules
- DroneXL: FCC adds foreign drones to Covered List
- Inspired Flight: IF1200 hexacopter
- U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission recalls
Frequently asked questions
What is a drone with six propellers called?
A hexacopter, or hexarotor. Four rotors make a quadcopter, and eight make an octocopter.
Is a hexacopter better than a quadcopter?
It lifts more and can sometimes land after losing a motor, but it weighs more, costs more and usually flies for less time on the same battery. For casual photos, a quadcopter is the simpler choice.
Can a hexacopter keep flying if a motor fails?
Often, if it has plenty of spare thrust and a flight controller set up for six rotors. A heavily loaded build may only manage a controlled descent, so land right away.
Can I still buy a ready-to-fly hexacopter?
Not at hobby prices. DJI's Matrice 600 Pro and Yuneec's six-rotor models are out of production. New ones, such as the Inspired Flight IF1200, are enterprise aircraft sold through dealers.
Do I need to register a homebuilt hexacopter?
In the U.S., yes. Anything over 250 grams must be registered with the FAA, and a homebuilt drone needs an add-on Remote ID module unless you fly at an FAA-recognized identification area.
