How high can a drone fly? Maximum heights and limits in line with UK Regulations

A look at DJI drones flight capabilities within UK flight categories

How high your drone can fly depends on what you’re flying and where.

In the UK, drone regulations set the maximum operating height at 120 m / 400 ft, with the drone kept in your line of sight. The only exceptions are if you have completed a UK SORA with CAA approval to fly higher, or if you are operating in the Specific Category with an Operational Authorisation or a Pre-defined Risk Assessment (PDRA).

In the Specific Category, the 120 m / 400 ft limit is measured from the ground but can be exceeded in approved cases, such as flying over a tall obstacle.

We will look at DJI drone specifications – from the Mini 4 Pro to the Matrice 400 – to see how high these drones can fly.

Then we will look at the CAA flight categories and UK SORA, to explore the regulations for how high you can fly. Ultimately, regardless of the aircraft capabilities, it is paramount to follow the regulations and ensure you are operating safely.

DJI drone height limits

Let's look at the highest drone flights the DJI Mini 4 Pro, Matrice 4D/TD (compatible with Dock 3), Matrice 4E/4T, and Matrice 400 can reach.

These maximum operating altitudes are measured from sea level. The higher the altitude limit, the more powerful the drone.

DJI Drone	Maximum Operating Altitude
Mini 4 Pro	4000 m
Matrice 4D/4TD	4500 m
Matrice 4E/4T	6000 m
Matrice 400	7000 m

In the UK, the maximum legal altitude is 120 m from the point of take-off. This height is measured vertically from where you are standing.

Crucially, you must always keep your drone in direct line of sight unless you have BVLOS approval.

Flight Categories: How high can I fly how high can drones fly in the UK?

In the UK the CAA have three operational categories:

Open: Geared to hobbyists/some commercial users
Specific: Mainly enterprise drone pilots
Certified: Very high-risk operations

Learn more about what category you'll be operating by using our drone licence calculator.

Let’s look at what these categories mean, and how your drone’s weight and intended flight area determine which category you must follow.

Open Category

Subcategory	Operating Area	Classification	UA Mass	Competency
A1	Fly over uninvolved people, but not over crowds	Privately built, or placed on the market before 01 Jan 2026	<250g ‘flying weight’	Read user manual
	No intentional flight over uninvolved persons	A1 Transitional – Not after 01 Jan 2026	<500g ‘flying weight’	A2 CofC Theoretical test
A2	No closer than 50m horizontally from uninvolved persons	A2 Transitional – Not after 01 Jan 2026	<2kg ‘flying weight’	User manualOnline trainingOnline (foundation) testSelf–practical trainingA2 CofC Theoretical test
A3	No uninvolved people present within the area of flight. Maintain 50m separation from any uninvolved people and; No flight within 150m horizontally of residential, commercial, industrial or recreational areas	Privately built or placed on the market before 01 Jan 2026	<25kg ‘flying weight’	User manualOnline trainingOnline (foundation) test

Specific Category

In the Specific Category, you must obtain an Operational Authorisation or a Pre-defined Risk Assessment (PDRA) from the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).

The maximum height remains 120 m / 400 ft from the ground, but this can be exceeded in certain approved situations, such as flying over a tall obstacle. In this case, you must stay within 50 m horizontally of the obstacle and have permission from the person responsible for it.

Learn more about the Specific Category in our drone laws blog.

Certified Category

The Certified Category applies to complex operations that carry risks similar to manned aviation.

UK regulations for this category are still being developed and have not yet been published.

In the meantime, the principles of manned aviation regulations covering airworthiness, operations, and licensing are being used as the basis for oversight.

BVLOS and UK SORA

If you apply for a UK SORA, the CAA can grant approval for higher altitude flights on a case-by-case basis, depending on the intended use.

All flight plans must be approved by the CAA. A SORA application requires a detailed operations manual, which the CAA must sign off. They will assess the plan against operational safety objectives, using the SAIL marking system to evaluate risk levels.

At Heliguy, we make applying for a UK SORA simple. Our in-house regulatory specialists were the first in the UK to secure BVLOS permissions for the DJI Dock in an Atypical Air Environment. They have also gained approval to operate the DJI FlyCart 30 heavy-lift drone.

Get in touch with our regulatory specialists to learn more.

Summary

Overall, how high you can fly a drone in the UK depends on the aircraft and the flight category. Regardless of your drone’s capabilities, it is essential to follow CAA regulations to ensure safe and compliant operations.

To learn more, get in touch with our team.