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As the founder of the country’s leading drone service, I’ve seen all kinds of drones over the years. But some of my favorites are indoor drones – they’re just so versatile and fun!
That’s why I wanted to share my picks for the best indoor drones of 2023.
With over a decade of experience flying, reviewing, and operating drones of all types, I’ve developed a good eye for quality.
My goal with this blog is to recommend the best indoor drones that are great for adults and kids alike – even if you’re flying inside for the first time. I have chosen a wide range of types of indoor drones.
In this blog, I’ll be counting down my favorite indoor drones for 2023, including top picks from leading brands like DJI, Potensic, and others.
I’ll overview their features, pros and cons, and ideal uses, as well as how they compare to other indoor drone models.
My choices are based on extensive testing and research to find the best combination of portability, camera quality, features, and overall value in an indoor drone or indoor drones with cameras.
Whether you’re a beginner looking for your first indoor drone, or an expert wanting the latest indoor flying machine, this list has a great option for you.
So read on to see discover the best indoor drones to take your flying fun inside!
Let’s get started!
TOMZON A24 Battle Drone | Interactive Indoor Battle Drone
2 Pack Indoor Battle Drone
Indoor Aerial Dog Fighting Drone
With its easy controls, battle mode for fun competitions, and durable design, the TOMZON A24 Battle Drone is a great option for beginners looking to learn indoor drone flying at an affordable price point. The included 2-pack means you can start battling other drones right out of the box for an engaging indoor activity
When I first took the A24 Battle Drone out of the box, I was impressed by its sturdy yet lightweight design. As one of the best indoor drones on the market, it seems durable enough to withstand some crashes thanks to the protective blade covers.
I found the controls on the remote easy to figure out, with buttons for flipping, spinning, landing, and the fun battle mode.
Once I charged up the batteries, I was excited to fly this indoor drone around my house.
Takeoff and landing is made simple with the one-touch buttons.
The altitude hold feature works great for hovering steadily when flying a drone indoors. Even at the higher speeds, the A24 remained controllable and stable as an indoor drone.
One of my favorite features is the battle mode – you can “shoot” IR beams at another indoor drone and force it to land!
My kids loved trying to shoot each other down with these drones for indoors, though the drones emerged unscathed. The battle mode really enhances the fun factor and makes the A24 perfect for drone races or games with indoor drones.
A great thing is that the A24 Battle Drone comes in a 2 pack so you get two drones for battling and flying games right out of the box!
In terms of flight time, I got about 8 minutes per battery, which is decent but not amazing for an indoor drone. The good news is they provide you with 3 batteries total, so you can easily swap them out for almost 25 minutes of total fly time with this indoor drone.
The batteries are removable and modular so they’re easy to switch out once one runs out of juice.
Overall, the TOMZON A24 is an extremely fun indoor drone thanks to its durability, intuitive controls, and unique battle mode feature. Beginners will love how easy it is to pick up and start flying this drone indoor. While the battery life could be better, the fact that you get 3 batteries makes up for it. I would definitely recommend the A24 for indoor drone enthusiasts looking for an affordable, user-friendly quadcopter.
Pros
- Comes in a 2-pack for head-to-head battling
- Durable and can withstand crashes
- Easy to fly and control, even for beginners
- Altitude hold provides stable hovering
- Battle mode is unique and fun
- Removable modular batteries are easy to swap out
- Provides 3 batteries for 25 minutes of fly time
- Affordable price point
Cons
- Battery life could be longer (8 mins per battery)
- Only comes with 1 micro USB charging cable
- The charging cable is required, normal USB won’t work
- Lacks a camera which some users may want
Cheerwing U61S | Indoor Drone With Camera
Cheerwing U61S
Fun Budget Indoor Drone for Beginners
- Affordable starter indoor drone
- Easy to fly and control, even for beginners
- 720p camera for aerial photos/videos
- Altitude hold and multiple speed modes
- Comes with 2 batteries for 14 mins of flight time
After unboxing the Cheerwing U61S, I was eager to take this mini drone, one of the top indoor mini drones, for a spin inside my house. Its compact size makes it ideal for flying a drone indoors.
The 720p camera provides good quality video and photos for an indoor drone with camera.
Connecting to the app was easy with the WiFi FPV transmission when operating this indoor drone.
Getting the U61S off the ground is simple with the one-touch takeoff and landing feature. The altitude hold works well to keep it hovering steadily when flying a drone indoors.
I tried out the few different speed modes and found even the highest setting has smooth control and stability when flying this indoor drone.
Some of the more advanced features like customized flight routes and voice commands took a bit more practice but were fun to try out with this indoor drone. The gestures for taking photos/videos by showing a palm or peace sign allowed me to get great aerial shots with this indoor drone with camera. The 3D flips add excitement with just a tap of the button.
The battery life is a bit short at around 7 minutes per battery which is common for indoor drones.
But the included two modular batteries allow you to quickly swap them out in seconds for double the flight time with this indoor drone. I got audible low battery alarms on the remote to let me know when to land before running out of juice.
In terms of durability, the U61S held up nicely despite a few minor crashes into walls. The propeller guards help protect the blades and overall it seems like a sturdy little indoor drone.
For the very affordable price, it packs in a good range of features that make it fun to fly this drone indoors for beginners and kids.
Overall, I was satisfied with the Cheerwing U61S as a starter indoor drone for indoor use. It’s easy to control, provides decent FPV video/photos, and has multiple batteries. Some drawbacks are shorter battery life and WiFi FPV range could be better. But for the price, it’s a nice introductory quadcopter indoor drone for new pilots.
Pros
- Affordable price point
- Compact and lightweight design for indoor flying
- 720p camera takes decent photos/videos
- One-touch takeoff and landing
- Altitude hold keeps it hovering steadily
- Multiple speed modes for different skill levels
- Gesture controls and voice commands
- 3D flips and maneuvers are fun
- Comes with 2 batteries for extended flight time
Cons
- Short 7 minute battery life per battery
- WiFi FPV range could be better
- Frame rates can be low on FPV video
- Lacks sensors and obstacle avoidance
- Not suitable for outdoor flying
- No dedicated charger, charges via USB
- Can struggle flying in windy conditions
HOLYFUN | Indoor Fighter Jet Drone
HOLYFUN
A Stylish and Fun Indoor Drone
- Unique and stylish fighter jet design
- Smooth, stable flight performance indoors
- Altitude hold keeps it hovering steadily
- Easy stunts like flips and rolls
- Includes 3 batteries for 18 mins of fly time
Taking the Holyfun out of the box, I was immediately impressed by its unique fighter jet style design – it looks really cool for an indoor mini drone!
Despite the compact size that makes it great for flying a drone indoors, it felt sturdy and well-built.
The simple one-key takeoff and landing made getting this indoor drone airborne inside my house a breeze.
I was able to make the Holyfun hover steadily thanks to the altitude hold function that comes in handy when flying a drone indoors.
The controls were smooth and responsive when flying this indoor drone around my living room.
It can pick up some decent speed but remains easy to maneuver as an indoor drone.
Doing 360 degree flips and stunts with the flip button was a blast with this indoor drone!
The headless mode came in handy as a beginner since I didn’t have to worry about orienting the drone perfectly before flying it indoors. I also tried out the 3 different speed modes, which are nice for flying drones indoors in different environments.
The LED lights allow you to keep tracking it even when flying this indoor drone at night.
Battery life was better than expected, with each 380mAh battery lasting around 6 minutes which is great for these small indoor drones.
Having 3 total batteries included gives you a nice long fly time of 18 minutes with this indoor drone before needing to recharge.
I got plenty of time to enjoy flying this fun indoor drone thanks to the extra batteries.
Overall, the Holyfun lived up to its promise of being an easy and fun indoor drone. The cool jet design, smooth flying performance, and multiple batteries make this an awesome indoor quadcopter for beginners or as a gift for kids. I’d highly recommend it if you want an indoor drone that’s both stylish and a joy to pilot.
Pros
- Unique and cool fighter jet styling
- Sturdy and durable construction
- Simple one-key takeoff/landing
- Altitude hold for stable hovering
- Smooth and responsive controls
- LED lights for night flying
- 3 speed modes for different skills
- Headless mode good for beginners
- Includes 3 batteries for long fly time
- Fun tricks like flips and rolls
Cons
- Lacks a camera
- Batteries can be tricky to remove
- Short 6 minute flight time per battery
- No advanced autopilot features
- WiFi FPV would be nice
- Not suitable for outdoor flying
- No sensors for obstacle avoidance
- Remote control feels a bit cheap
Magic Flying Orb | Gesture Controlled In-door Drone
Magic Flying Orb
Handy Introduction to Indoor Drones
- Intuitive hand control flying method is easy to learn
- Lightweight, portable orb design can be taken anywhere
- Durable construction withstands crashes
- Simple to operate right out of the box
- Provides carefree flying fun for both kids and adults
Right out of the box I was fascinated by the unique design of the Magic Flying Orb drone.
As an indoor mini drone, it’s shaped like a ball with the propellers concealed inside, making it safe for indoor use. Charging it up was simple with the included USB cable.
Getting this indoor drone airborne takes a gentle upward hand motion rather than a traditional remote control.
It took a few tries to launch it smoothly, but once up, the Magic Orb hovered steadily like a great indoor drone should. I could guide it left, right, up or down based on hand movements – no remote needed with this innovative indoor flying machine!
The orb design protects walls and furniture if you happen to bump into anything mid-flight with this indoor drone. Durability seems good as it survived a few of my clumsy landings unscathed.
One fun trick is quickly flipping your palm underneath to make the indoor mini drone rapidly ascend. My kids loved playing catch with it after launching the indoor drone.
Flight time is about 8-10 minutes per charge.
That’s fairly typical for these small best indoor drones. When the LEDs start blinking, it’s a signal the battery is running low on this indoor flying orb. I do wish the on/off switch was easier to access for a quick emergency shutoff if needed while flying this indoor drone.
One neat thing about the Magic Orb as an indoor drone is how portable it is.
The entire indoor flying machine can fit in the palm of your hand and weighs next to nothing. I loved that I could toss it in a bag and take it anywhere for impromptu indoor drone flying sessions. It’s also quiet enough that you can use this indoor mini drone without disturbing others too much.
While it doesn’t have the lengthy feature list or functionality of more advanced drones, the Magic Orb delivers on its goal of providing a simple, intuitive way to experience basic flight with an indoor drone.
The hand control method offers a more organic, engaging experience than using a remote with many indoor drones.
Both kids and adults in our family found this indoor flying orb easy to pick up yet still challenging as we competed to keep it airborne and aimed it through doorways or up staircases. For an affordable introduction to indoor drones focused on sheer fun, the hand-controlled Magic Flying Orb is hard to beat.
Pros
- Unique hand control flying method is intuitive and easy to pick up
- Lightweight, compact orb design great for portability
- Propellers concealed for added safety when flying indoors
- Sturdy construction withstands crashes
- Fun for both kids and adults
- Simple operation right out of the box
- Affordable price point
Cons
- Short 8-10 minute flight time per charge
- No advanced features like camera, gestures, tricks
- Difficult to access small on/off switch
- Hand control method has learning curve
- Lack of remote control limits capabilities
- Not suitable for outdoor flight
- No propeller guards or sensors
Pterosaur Dinosaur Drone | Unique Dinosaur Design
Pterosaur Dinosaur Drone
Dinosaur-themed drone provides smooth indoor flying
- Unique dinosaur pterodactyl design stands out
- Smooth, stable flight performance indoors
- Durable construction withstands crashes
- Intuitive controls simple enough for kids
- Modular battery provides good flight time
As soon as I unboxed the Pterosaur drone, I knew its unique dinosaur shape would be a hit, especially with kids.
The pterodactyl design really makes it stand out from other quadcopters. After charging up via the USB cable, I was ready to take this prehistoric flyer for a spin indoors.
Getting airborne was simple using the one button takeoff.
The altitude hold function kicked in nicely to keep the Pterosaur hovering steadily.
Transitioning between the 3 speed modes provided a good range for maneuvering in tight spaces up to more adventurous flying. The headless mode came in handy as a beginner pilot, making directing the drone intuitive.
I was impressed by how smoothly the Pterosaur handled thanks to its 6-axis gyro system. The controls were very responsive, allowing me to navigate through doorways and around furniture with ease.
The modular battery delivered a solid 10 minutes of fly time before needing a recharge.
Durability is excellent – this dino drone shrugged off some minor crashes into walls and furniture without any issue.
The flexible blades help ensure it can withstand some beginner mishaps. Both kids and adults will appreciate the fun, unique design.
For the very affordable price, the Pterosaur dinosaur drone packs in some great features for a mini drone. The intuitive controls and fun design make it perfect for beginners. Advanced fliers may want more trick capabilities and a built-in camera. But for basic indoor flying fun, it’s hard to beat this prehistoric flier.
Overall, I’d highly recommend the Pterosaur drone as a unique indoor quadcopter, especially for kids interested in dinosaurs. The smooth performance, durable build, and cool dino styling provide an engaging flying experience that makes learning the controls enjoyable and rewarding.
Pros
- Unique pterodactyl drone design
- Smooth, stable indoor flight performance
- Altitude hold enables steady hovering
- Responsive controls and 3 speed modes
- Headless mode good for beginners
- Modular battery provides up to 10 mins of flight
- Withstands crashes well due to durable construction
- Easy for kids to fly and control
- Very affordable price point
Cons
- Short 10 minute maximum flight time
- No advanced features like camera or tricks
- Plastic material feels a bit cheap
- Not suitable for outdoor flight
- Remote control design is very basic
- Can’t customize or program flight patterns
Indoor Swoop Drone | Compact Drone
Mini Drone In Controller
Smooth Flying and Trick Performance in a Compact Drone
- Smooth flight and easy maneuvering indoors
- Fun features like flips, headless mode, speed settings
- Long 30 min flight time with 3 batteries
- Durable and protective propeller guards
- Extremely affordable
Despite its small size, this drone packs a punch when it comes to performance. I took it for a test drive indoors to see how this top indoor drone would handle tight spaces and obstacles. The drone responded quickly and smoothly to commands from the controller.
I was able to easily maneuver it around furniture and through doorways thanks to its compact size.
Even at high speeds, it remained stable and under control.
One of my favorite things about this indoor drone is how fun it is to fly, especially indoors. The 360 degree flips and rolls it can do midair add an exciting element.
It almost feels like an indoor airshow!
I also love the headless mode which makes controlling the direction of this indoor mini drone much simpler. With just a push of a button, you can switch into headless mode and focus on steering rather than having to constantly re-orient yourself to which way the drone is facing.
This is a great feature for beginners who are just learning to fly.
In terms of performance, the altitude hold function allows this top rated indoor drone to hover steadily in place which is great for times you need to take a short break from flying or want to pass the controls to someone else.
The one key takeoff and landing also helps smooth out the piloting experience, making it easy to launch and bring the indoor drone back down. For a mini drone, it has impressive stability and maneuverability thanks to features like these.
The fact that this indoor drone comes with 3 modular batteries that can be easily swapped out is a huge plus.
With 3 flight times of about 10 minutes each, you can enjoy up to 30 minutes of flight time before needing to recharge. The batteries load into the drone securely while also being easy to remove.
Having multiple batteries really extends the excitement and fun without needing to end the flight prematurely to recharge a single battery.
In terms of safety and durability, the foldable design and propeller guards make this top indoor drone a great choice. I’ve bumped it into things a few times and it has kept on going without any issues.
The soft flexible guards help protect the propellers and make it safer to fly around kids or pets. Despite being lightweight and portable, it doesn’t feel fragile or cheap.
Overall, this foldable mini drone, one of the best drones for indoors, absolutely delivers when it comes to performance and fun. It handles beautifully indoors and is compact enough to fly in smaller spaces. The features cater to both newbies and more advanced pilots. With 3 swappable batteries, you can really maximize flight time. Despite its small size, it packs a punch thanks to great maneuverability and speed control. I would highly recommend this as an indoor drone for anyone looking for an affordable indoor recreation option.
Pros
- Compact and portable design perfect for indoor spaces
- Easy to control with intuitive controls
- Three speed settings for different skill levels
- Headless mode simplifies directional navigation
- Fun tricks like flips and rolls
- Long battery life from 3 modular batteries
- Durable propeller guards for added safety
- Affordable price point
Cons
- Short 10 minute flight time per battery
- No camera for filming footage
- Smaller size means more susceptible to wind outdoors
- Doesn’t come with a carrying case
- Recharging multiple batteries can be time consuming
- Not suitable for outdoor use or in windy conditions
2 In 1 Drone & RC Car | Transforming Indoor Drone
LANSAND 2Pack Mini Drones
Creative drones can fly and drive for versatile indoor playtime
- 2-in-1 drones can fly and drive on ground
- Fun racing car styling stands out
- Altitude hold enables stable hovering
- Performs flips, spins, and other tricks
- Modular batteries provide long fly time
I was excited to try out the innovative 2-in-1 functionality of the LANSAND mini drones, which can operate as quadcopters or ground vehicles.
As indoor mini drones, their unique racing car shape definitely makes them stand out compared to other small drones for indoors.
After charging the modular batteries via USB, I took the pair of indoor drones for a test drive inside.
Getting airborne only took the press of a button thanks to the one-key takeoff feature. Once aloft, the altitude hold kicked in to keep the indoor drones hovering steadily.
Transitioning them into land mode transformed the quads into speedy little remote control cars zipping across the floor.
The three speed modes provided a good range of control from easy, more stable flying to faster maneuvers with these indoor drones. Activating the 3D flips with the flip button allowed the indoor mini drones to perform exciting midair stunts with the press of a button.
Their lightweight durability held up well to some minor crashes during my initial flight trials with these best indoor drones.
The LED lights aren’t just for show – they make orienting the indoor drones easy even when traveling at high speeds in car mode.
My kids loved racing the indoor drone pair around obstacles we set up as an impromptu indoor course.
The 2.4GHz remote easily handles controlling both indoor mini drones simultaneously.
With 4 batteries included, each providing about 8 minutes of use, I could fly these indoor drones for a good stretch before needing to recharge.
The modular batteries make swapping them a breeze when flying these drones indoors.
However, I do wish the drone’s body was designed for easier access to the power button when it’s time to turn off the indoor drone.
Overall, the transformable LANSAND drones add a whole new dimension of fun to mini quadcopters for indoor use. Their versatility allows you to enjoy double the playtime with integrated flying and driving modes using these creative indoor drones. Once I got the hang of the controls, they performed smoothly thanks to the assistive tech onboard. Definitely a creative new take on indoor mini drones!
Pros
- Unique 2-in-1 drone transforms into RC car
- Racing car styling sets it apart
- Smooth, stable flight performance
- Altitude hold, headless mode good for beginners
- Responsive controls and 3 speed modes
- Does flips, rolls, and other fun tricks
- Bright LED lights aid orientation
- Comes with 4 batteries for long fly time
- Can control 2 drones simultaneously
Cons
- Accessing the power switch is tricky
- Still lightweight and lacks outdoor durability
- Short 8 minute flight time per battery
- Camera quality and range are basic
- No advanced automated flight features
- Can’t customize controls or programs
- Lacks propeller guards for added safety
Preparing a Safe Indoor Drone Flying Environment
While flying your best indoor drones removes many of the hazards that come with outdoor drone operation, you still need to take some basic precautions when setting up an indoor drone flying space.
Taking the time to optimize your indoor environment will allow you to focus on flying your indoor drones without worries.
Start by thoroughly clearing the area you intend to fly your indoor drones in. Scan for any fragile items or valuables that could be potentially struck by the indoor drone mid-flight.
Pay particular attention overhead – ceiling fans, chandeliers, hanging lights, and other suspended fixtures pose risks to your indoor flying machines.
It’s also important to mind small gaps and openings between furniture, shelves, stair railings, and other tight spaces. Assess whether the indoor drone could become stuck or lodged if it happened to pass through these areas.
You don’t want to lose your indoor drone in some hard-to-reach crevice!
Consider blocking off any troublesome openings that could capture your indoor mini drone.
Take measurements of the usable open floor plan to ensure there is adequate clearance for operating the indoor drone.
Most nano indoor drone models need a minimum of about 8 feet by 8 feet of unobstructed area for safe maneuvering of these small drones for indoors.
Larger mini drones require even more space.
It’s better to have too much room than not enough.
Secure any doors, windows, or other exits that could allow the indoor drone to inadvertently fly outside and become lost.
Close curtains or blinds over any glass to avoid issues with the indoor drone’s sensors.
Turn off ceiling fans, AC, or other ventilation that could impact the indoor drone’s stability in the air.
Designate a clear, uncluttered area as your takeoff and landing zone. Avoid soft, irregular surfaces that could entangle or damage the indoor drone on landing.
Keep this runway free of obstacles and provide ample clearance all around it.
By taking these preparatory steps, you’ll be able to focus on the fun of flying your new indoor drone! Starting off slowly in a controlled environment is key as you get a feel for the drone’s capabilities.
Importance Of Headless Mode On Indoor Drones
One really helpful feature to have on an indoor mini drone is headless mode.
This makes the drone fly based on the controller, not the direction it’s facing.
Headless mode is great for beginners still learning how to control their best indoor drones.
With headless mode on, you just push the joystick forward and the indoor drone will move away from you no matter which way its front end is pointing.
Pulling back brings the indoor flying machine back towards you.
So you can just focus on flying from your point of view, instead of worrying about which way the drone’s nose is aimed.
Headless mode prevents you from getting confused if the indoor drone spins around indoors and you don’t know which direction it needs to go.
Having headless capabilities takes away some of the challenge of orienting the indoor drone as a new pilot. It helps prevent accidents from not knowing which direction is which with your drone indoors.
That’s why headless mode is such a useful feature for keeping things simple when first starting out with an indoor quadcopter. It takes away a layer of complexity so you can better learn the controls.
Why The Best Indoor Drones Have Propeller Guards
When choosing a drone for indoor use, looking for models with propeller guards is highly recommended. Propeller guards are plastic circular covers that surround the propellers on a drone.
They serve the dual purpose of protecting people from coming in contact with the spinning blades, while also protecting the propellers themselves if the drone crashes or bumps into obstacles.
For indoor environments, prop guards drastically improve safety for both the drone and humans nearby.
Unprotected propellers spinning at high rpm can cause nasty cuts or injuries if they come in contact with fingers or skin.
Prop guards act as a barrier to prevent this, especially important when flying around kids or in limited space.
The guards also allow the drone to bounce off walls or furniture without damaging the propellers in minor collisions. While adding some weight, prop guards don’t negatively affect flight performance.
For these reasons, propeller guards should be considered essential equipment for indoor drone use. They allow you to fly confidently while minimizing risks.
Conclusion
Finding the right indoor drone or indoor mini drone opens up an exciting new world of aerial possibilities.
With so many capable best indoor drones now available, you’re sure to find one that fits your needs and experience level. Focus on portability, ease of use, and safety features as you shop for your next indoor quadcopter or drone for indoors.
Take the time to set up a proper indoor flying space free from hazards.
Start slowly with basic exercises, and lean on useful capabilities like headless mode as you develop your piloting skills.
Soon you’ll be able to smoothly navigate even tight indoor confines like a pro with your new indoor flying machine. With this guide’s tips in mind, you now have all the knowledge needed to find the best indoor drone in 2023 and make the most of your indoor flying sessions!
