UK drone laws for sub 250g drones (2026 guide)

Learn about UK drone laws for sub-250g drones, Flyer ID and Operator ID requirements and where you can legally fly.

Sub-250g drones are a popular drone choice as they offer a balance of portability, performance, and fewer flight restrictions. Whether you are a beginner looking for your first drone, a traveller wanting a lightweight setup, or a content creator needing high-quality aerial footage, there are now more options than ever.

This blog explains UK regulations for drones weighing under 250g, including Flyer ID and Operator ID requirements, where you can legally fly, and the key rules to follow.

To find out about the best sub-250g drones, click here.

For a full breakdown of UK drone laws, click here.

Key takeaways

• Sub-250g drones fall into the UK Open Category A1, allowing greater flexibility for flying in built-up areas and around people.

• Most sub-250g drones with a camera require a Flyer ID and/or Operator ID from the CAA.

• Even with fewer restrictions, pilots must still maintain visual line of sight and respect airspace restrictions.

• Sub-250g drones are ideal for beginners, travellers, content creators and some commercial operators.

UK regulations for under 250g drones

In the UK, drones under 250g can operate in the Open Category's A1 subcategory, which is the least restrictive category for everyday drone flying.

These operations can be conducted with sub-250g drones without requiring formal UK CAA drone training.

This is why sub-250g drones are popular with beginners, content creators, and commercial operators who need flexibility in built-up areas.

Where can I fly my sub-250g drone in the UK?

Pilots of sub-250g drones have great flight freedom, as per the rules of the Open Category's A1 subcategory.

These rules include:

• Can fly over people, including people who are not involved in what you're doing. But you must keep your drone at a safe distance from people.

• Must not fly over crowds.

• Can fly in residential, recreational, commercial or industrial areas.

• Can fly at night, but must have a green flashing light turned on.

• Must keep your drone in visual line of sight (VLOS).

• Must not fly above 120m (400ft).

• Must not fly in restricted airspace.

• Must not carry dangerous goods or drop articles.

Can I fly near people with a sub-250g drone?

As sub-250g drones can operate in the A1 subcategory, they can be flown close to people and, where necessary, over uninvolved people.

However, they must not be flown over crowds or assemblies of people. A crowd means people are gathered so closely that they cannot easily move away if the drone were to fail.

Pilots should still minimise time spent flying directly over people and maintain safe control of the aircraft throughout the flight.

Do I need drone training to fly a sub-250g drone?

One of the biggest advantages of flying a sub-250g drone is that you do not need official UK CAA training, such as the A2 CofC, to operate in the A1 category.

However, we do encourage operators to obtain an A2 CofC to encourage safe flying and competency.

A Flyer ID (involving a free-to-sit test) is required for DJI's sub-250g drones. We'll cover this later in this blog.

What happens if the drone goes over 250g?

If your drone goes over 250g, and it is not UK0 or C0 class-marked - then your requirements are different.

You will need to either:

• Sit A2 CofC to fly in the A2 subcategory (Near People).

• Conduct no training and fly in the A3 subcategory - far from people.

Visual line of sight

The drone must remain within visual line of sight at all times. This means the remote pilot must be able to see the drone unaided, understand its orientation, and monitor the surrounding airspace.

Binoculars, screens, or goggles do not replace the requirement to maintain visual line of sight.

Maximum altitude

The maximum legal height is 120m / 400ft above the surface, unless specific permission has been granted.

This limit is designed to reduce conflict with crewed aircraft and applies regardless of the drone’s weight.

Do I need an Operator ID or Flyer ID for a sub-250g drone?

For drones weighing less than 250g, the CAA requirements are:

By the nature of their design, sub-250g DJI drones require a Flyer ID (if you're the pilot) and Operator ID (if you are responsible for it).

How do I obtain a Flyer ID and Operator ID?

• Flyer ID: pass a free online theory test via the CAA.

• Operator ID: register online with the CAA and pay the annual fee.

Learn more about Flyer IDs and Operator IDs here.

Who are sub-250g drones for

• Beginners: Many sub-250g drones come with automated flight features, lightweight designs, and simpler controls, which are ideal for beginners.

• Travellers: The compact and lightweight build makes sub-250g drones easy to carry for holidays, hiking, and everyday travel.

• Content creators: Many sub-250g drones offer high-quality cameras, intelligent tracking, and vertical shooting for social media and professional content on the go.

• Commercial operators: Their A1 classification provides greater flexibility for flying in built-up areas for inspections, surveying, and media work.

Which are the best sub-250g drones: key specs at a glance

This table provides an overview of DJI's leading sub-250g drones.

Conclusion

Sub-250g drones offer one of the most accessible ways to get into drone flying, combining portability, capable camera performance, and greater flexibility under UK regulations.

Whether you are a beginner, traveller, or content creator, there is now a lightweight drone suited to various needs and budgets.