10 Best Drones for Kids, According to Engineers

We tested (and broken!) a lot of drones in our lab, but we’ve yet to break this one. While you appreciate the durability, your kids will love the way this one is controlled: with their hands, no remote control needed. Using hand-gestures to make this palm-size drone zip around will make them feel like magicians. 

For just over $20, this drone from Snapstain has thousands of rave Amazon reviews for being easy to use and lots of fun. The propellers are completely covered for your child’s safety and to prevent the drone from breaking. With three speed levels, reviewers loved that it can do flips in the air. It has one button take off and landing, so your child won’t lose their new favorite toy. 

This smaller hand-operated drone is best suited for younger children. To use, just toss it in the air and control where it goes with your hands – it’ll always hover in reach. It’s rechargeable with an included USB cable, so you don’t have to worry about having batteries on hand. Only use this drone inside to avoid losing or damaging it. 

Much smaller than any of the other drones featured, this model is perfect for bringing with you on the go. For a mini drone, it has a ton of awesome features, including altitude hold, 360 flips, and an LED light. Users report that it’s so small, stable, and easy to fly that it can even be used indoors (but we won’t tell your kids that if you don’t want us to).

To capture awesome images from above, you’ll need a drone with an excellent camera. This model from Holy Stone has a 1080P HD camera with 120 degree wide angle for amazing videos that go straight to your smartphone. The drone also offers voice control, trajectory flight options, and auto hover for perfect pictures.

With over 2,000 Amazon reviews, this mini drone is popular for being easy to set up and fly, ideal for kids ages 8-12. It features altitude hold (ideal for beginners) and can do flips in the air. With headless mode, you don’t have to worry about the drone facing any specific way, making it much easier to fly. At $28, it makes a fun and exciting gift that won’t break the bank. 

Impress your teen with this drone from Potensic that features a 4K camera that’s WiFi compatible with your smartphone as the controller. The camera can rotate 90 degrees to capture pictures from above that are sure to wow. With a 31 minute flight time (longer than most other models), it also offers innovative features such as follow-me controls, circle flights, auto return, and emergency stop. We also love that the camera features PowerAC technology to prevent blurry pictures. 

If your kids love helicopters, this is a must have toy. The SYMA RC Helicopter combines the fun of a toy helicopter with the features of a drone. Designed for both indoor and outdoor play, there are propeller guards and a landing base to prevent damage while flying. Reviewers love this model as you can keep learning new tricks as you play with it. 

This drone from Snaptain has an impressive 6,800 reviews on Amazon. Especially popular for being “indestructible” and easy to fly and use, this model features propeller protection, gesture control, altitude hold, and WiFi connectivity to your smartphone. Reviewers love that the videos are automatically sent to their smartphone via WiFI, ready to be shared on social media.