Essential Drone Accessories: What’s Worth Buying (and What Isn’t)

The drone is only the start. The right accessories add flight time, protect your investment and improve your footage, while the wrong ones just add weight to your bag. Here’s what we recommend, in order of priority.

Must-haves

Extra batteries

One battery is rarely enough for a satisfying outing. Two or three batteries let you scout a location, shoot and still have a reserve. Buy genuine batteries from the manufacturer or an approved supplier: cheap copies can be dangerous. Learn how to keep them healthy in our battery care guide.

Multi-battery charging hub

A hub charges batteries in sequence and often has a storage mode. Some models also charge your controller and phone. A car charger is useful for long days in the field.

Spare propellers

Even a small chip or crack makes a propeller unsafe and causes vibration in your video. Keep at least one full spare set and replace props at the first sign of damage.

A protective case

A hard or padded case protects the gimbal, which is the most fragile part of a camera drone. Look for a case with room for spare batteries, props and filters.

Strongly recommended

ND filters

Neutral density filters reduce the light reaching the sensor so you can use slower shutter speeds for natural motion blur in video. They’re one of the cheapest ways to make footage look more cinematic. Our guide to drone camera settings explains how to use them.

Landing pad

A foldable pad keeps dust, sand, grass and snow out of motors and the camera during take-off and landing. It also makes your take-off point easier to see from the air.

Sun hood or bright display

Phone screens can be hard to read in bright sunlight. A sun hood, or a controller with a built-in bright screen, makes framing and reading telemetry much easier.

High-speed memory cards

Use cards rated for the video mode you record in, and carry a spare. Format the card in the drone, not on your computer, before important flights.

Nice to have

• Propeller guards for indoor practice and very tight spaces (they reduce performance and wind resistance outdoors).
• Battery heaters or insulated pouches for winter flying.
• Strobe light to improve visibility in low light.
• Lanyard and controller strap for comfort on long sessions.
• Fireproof LiPo bag for charging and storing batteries.

Usually not worth it

• Cheap third-party batteries of unknown origin.
• Decorative skins that add weight — especially on sub-250 g drones, where a few grams can push you over the limit.
• Range extenders that encourage flying beyond what the rules allow.

A starter kit in order of purchase

1. Two extra batteries and a charging hub
2. Spare propellers
3. Protective case
4. ND filter set
5. Landing pad
6. Spare memory card

Still choosing a drone? Read how to choose your first drone.