7 Quadcopter Drone Kits for Enthusiasts

1. Readytosky FPV Racing Drone Frame Kit | Best Budget

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Editor’s Rating: 4.4/5

The Best Budget pick goes to the Readytosky Martian II drone frame kit. It’s an excellent choice for beginners who want to build their first quad around a spacious frame.

• Best feature 1: Easy to assemble
• Best feature 2: Multiple motor mounting holes
• Plus points: Carbon fiber airframe, custom aluminum hardware, HD camera support
• Minus points: Top and bottom plates are thin

Readytosky FPV Racing Quad Kit Highlights

Anyone who wants a simple first-time kit should consider the Readytosky FPV Racing drone. The frame is a breeze to assemble and has plenty of room to work around. The carbon fiber airframe isn’t the best quality, but it’s affordable and fit for purpose. And the multiple motor mounting holes can accommodate a range of motors that use M2 or M3 screw mounting patterns.

Another welcome touch is the custom aluminum hardware. It allows pilots to quickly swap the arms with a single tool in a race pit situation. The HD camera support accommodates popular action cameras like the GoPro 4, GoPro Session, and RunCam2.

In the box of a new Readytosky FPV Racing Quad Kit:

• 3K carbon fiber frame
• 4mm removable frame arms
• Red Power distribution board
• 2 pairs of 5” propellers
• LiPo battery Strap

Items not in the box (but needed) include: four motors, four 20-30amp ESCs, four props, flight controller, and a transmitter. You may also want an FPV camera, batteries, and any custom parts.

The Not So Good

The only real criticism with this frame kit is that the top and bottom plates are a tad thin. We can expect thinner plates from a frame kit at this price, but it does mean they’re on the fragile side.

2. WOAFLY LHI Carbon Frame FPV Quad Kit | Best Value

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Editor’s Rating: 4.1/5

The LHI 220 is the Best Value pick and an upgraded version of a model called the QAV250. It’s a First Person View (FPV) quad with a popular box style frame. It’s also an excellent kit for beginners.

• Best feature 1: Excellent beginner FPV quadcopter kit
• Best feature 2: 4mm carbon fiber arms
• Plus points: Mainstream configuration, DX2205 brushless motors, 700TVL camera, extra blades
• Minus points: Restricted camera angle, no instruction manual

WOAFLY LHI FPV Quad Kit Highlights

The WOAFLY LHI FPV quad uses strong 4mm carbon fiber arms. That makes them a little heavier than some, but it also makes the arms more durable and crash resistant. That’s something to consider if you’re a novice pilot as you’re sure to have a few airborne prangs.

The mainstream configuration is another beginner-friendly feature with less of a learning curve. The quad uses DX2205 brushless motors. Brushless technology is quieter than brushed. These motors also last longer than brushed alternatives and need next to no maintenance. Our WOAFLY LHI here also comes with a 700TVL FPV camera, some spare propellers, and a few other goodies.

In the box of a new carbon frame WOAFLY LHI FPV quad kit:

• LHI 220 racing quadcopter frame
• F3 Flight controller board
• 700 TVL camera
• FPV antenna 5.8Ghz
• PDB-XT60
• TS5828 32CH FPV 5.8G 00mW TX (transmitter)
• 4 x DX2205 2300KV (2CW + 2CCW) brushless motors
• 4 x motor guard protector caps
• 4 x 20A mini ESC (Littlebee)
• 4 x LED lights
• 4 x 5045 propellers

Items not in the box (but needed) include: Receiver, transmitter, and drone batteries. Battery recommendations are any 3-4S LiPos from 1300mAh to 2200mAh.

The Not So Good

The FPV camera uses older tech but it does the job. The main frustration with the camera is its limited viewing angle. The good news is that you can upgrade to a camera of your choice if you want to. My suggestion would be to get one with a wider-angle lens. The final con is the missing instruction manual. There are YouTube vids, though, and most newbies prefer video guidance anyway.

3. QWinOut FPV DIY Quadcopter Drone Kit | Top Pick

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Editor’s Rating: 4.6/5

My top pick is the QWinOut FPV DIY Quadcopter. It has a 450F nylon fiber airframe and a bunch of must-have extras that are often missing from quadcopter DIY kits.

• Best feature 1: Tough, lightweight 450F nylon fiber frame
• Best feature 2: Flysky FS-i6 6CH 2.4G AFHDS 2A transmitter w/ LCD screen
• Plus points: CW/CCW brushless motors, brushless ESC, carbon fiber props, high landing gear
• Minus points: No instructions, little user feedback

QWinOut DIY FPV Quadcopter Kit Highlights

The QWinOut is a capable DIY FPV quadcopter kit with a lot to offer (see list below). It’s for the more advanced builder, and that’s why there’s so little user feedback on sales pages. Enthusiasts who buy a kit at this level know what they’re getting by reading the parts lists. It’s a model that hobbyists spend more time discussing on drone forums than they do writing reviews.

This quadcopter project is for those who love to tinker right out of the box. It’s a one-stop-shop pack that includes a transmitter, receiver, batteries, and brushless technology.

In the box of a new QWinOut DIY FPV drone kit:

• HJ 450 multicopter 450F nylon fiber Frame airframe
• CW/CCW JMT 920KV brushless motors (2 pairs)
• 4 x 30A Brushless Electronic Speed Controllers (ESCs)
• Carbon fiber Props (2 pairs)
• PIX PXI PX4 flight controller
• 6M GPS w/ compass L5883 25 cm cable
• DJI GPS folding metal antenna holder
• FS-i6 6CH 2.4G AFHDS 2A LCD transmitter iA6 receiver
• 12 x 3.5mm bullet connectors (banana plug)
• Hook & Loop fastening tape
• T plug connector (M)
• IMAX RC B3 Pro compact balance charger
• 11.1V 4400MAH 30C 3S1P battery
• 4 x black 140mm high-landing-gear w/ skid wheel tripod

Items not in the box (but needed) include: None.

The Not So Good

This drone doesn’t come with instructions, but that’s not so important in this case. Drone builders at this level prefer to work independently anyway. Builders are more likely to ask fellow hobbyists for guidance if they do need help. There’s very little feedback on sales pages for this kit. There are real users on YouTube giving their take on this and other QWinOut DIY FPV drone kits though.

4. Mini DIY RC Toy Quadcopter Drone Building Kit

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Editor’s Rating: 4.2/5

Meet the DIY Mini RC battle drone quadcopter kit. There are a lot of parts in the box which makes it excellent value. And the assembled drone has more features than you can shake a stick at.

• Best feature 1: Easy to assemble kit
• Best feature 2: 6-Axis gyro system
• Plus points: Camera, one-key take-off/landing, headless mode, altitude hold, 360° roll-over
• Minus points: Poorly written manual

Mini DIY RC Highlights

This DIY drone pack is quick to assemble, but the builder stills need some patience and thought. It’s a brilliant kit to help kids develop basic skills in areas of engineering, technology, science, and math. It’s also an attractive quad as well as capable, and that’s always a good thing. It has a 6-axis gyro system that keeps the craft steady during flights. That means shake-free videos and blur-free aerial photos.

The built-in 480P WIFI HD camera provides an excellent introduction to aerial shooting. Best of all is the drone’s First Person View (FPV) feature. The model is app-controlled and can use any regular Android or iOS smartphone screen. FPV allows pilots to see what the camera sees in real time. Video piloting is especially valuable if you’re into racing quadcopters.

Pilot-Friendly Features

There are other significant features worth a mention. The 1-key take-off and landing make light work of taking the bird up and bringing it down safely. Headless mode lets pilots fly using the RC controls regardless of the quad’s orientation. Altitude Hold is another pilot-friendly mode that makes controlling the drone much easier. There’s also an impressive one-button stunt function to boot.

This is a simple quadcopter kit to assemble and a fantastic, feature-packed model to fly once its ready.

In the box of a new Mini DIY RC Quadcopter building kit:

• Main body
• Main PCB
• 480P camera
• 4 x motors
• 8 x propellers
• RC remote controller (includes 3 x AAA batteries)
• Smartphone holder
• USB adapter
• User manual
• 2 x drone batteries
• Propeller puller tool
• Screwdriver
• 4 x protective shells

Items not in the box (but needed) include: None.

The Not So Good

The only downside to this product is the poorly written/translated user manual. A lot of users complain that it makes assembling and flying the quad too complicated. Thank goodness for YouTube tutorials.

5. LHI 250mm Pro Carbon Fiber Quadcopter Frame Kit

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Editor’s Rating: 4/5

The LHI 250mm Race Copter is a lightweight pure carbon fiber hobby-grade frame kit. The mini-sized quad has a 250mm wheelbase, but it’s powerful and flies well outdoors on calm days.

• Best feature 1: Pure carbon fiber build
• Best feature 2: Rubber damper for vibration reduction
• Plus points: Lightweight, durable, brushless motors and ESCs, excellent service
• Minus points: No instructions, fragile stock props

LHI 250mm Race Copter Frame Kit Highlights

This drone kit is a fantastic introduction for anyone who wants to build their first quad. It contains most of what you need to get going for a decent price. New builders don’t need any previous experience either. That said, a little patience and persistence is a prerequisite for any raw novice. The kit comes with a solid carbon fiber frame and an effective rubber damper to reduce flight vibrations.

The finished quad is lightweight, agile in the air, yet tough enough to stand up to a few knocks. Its brushless motors and electronic speed controllers (ESCs) maintain consistent power and performance.

In the box of a new LHI Pro carbon fiber drone frame kit:

• 250mm pure carbon fiber frame
• CC3D flight controller w/ case
• 4 x Simonk 12A Electronic Speed Controllers (ESCs)
• 4 x MT2204 2300KV (2CW + 2CCW) brushless motors
• 4 x Light board
• 8 x 5030 (2CW + 2CCVV) 2-blade propellers

Items not in the box (but needed) include: flight batteries, a receiver, and a transmitter.

Battery suggestions are any 3-4S LiPos from 1300mAh to 2200mAh. The maker’s recommendation for the radio system transmitter is the Flysky FS-i6 and 2A 2.4GHz 6CH.

The Not So Good

There aren’t any assembly instructions with this quadcopter kit. There are several YouTube tutorials where users walk newbies through the build instructions. The only shared gripe I found with the parts were with the stock blades. Most folks buy upgraded propellers as the included props seem too fragile.

6. QWinOut F550 RC Beginners Hexacopter Kit

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Editor’s Rating: 4.3/5

This is a hexacopter kit and has six rotors instead of four. The QWinOut F550 is best suited to those who have some experience assembling multirotor drones.

• Best feature 1: 1000KV brushless outrunner motors
• Best feature 2: Tough 3K carbon fiber propeller
• Plus points: Impact resistant sponge foam tube balls, failsafe hexacopter design
• Minus points: Not beginner-friendly, no instructions

QWinOut F550 RC Hexacopter Kit Highlights

The kit comes with six efficient 1000KV brushless outrunner motors. These reliable motors provide plenty of thrust, consistent performance, and require zero maintenance. The kit’s 3K carbon fiber propellers are far superior to any plastic counterpart. The foam tube balls add further to the quads overall impact resistance. There’s also an exciting extra benefit to building and flying a hexacopter.

Hexacopter drones don’t fall out of the sky if one of the motors fail. It’s the same if its electronic speed controllers (ESC) stop working. So, it’s entirely possible to land a hexacopter in any of these situations safely. However, when a quadcopter’s motor fails, it’s almost certain to suffer a crash landing.

In the box of a new QWinOut F550 RC Hexacopter Kit:

• F550 FlameWheel Hexa-Rotor airframe
• 6 x A2212 1000KV brushless outrunner motors w/ mount
• 6 x 30A brushless Electronic Speed Controllers (ESCs)
• 3 x 3K carbon fiber props
• KMulticopter V2.3 circuit board V5.5 flight controller
• Universal landing skid PTZ
• 4 x impact-resistant (65mm) skid-proof sponge foam tube balls

Items not in the box (but needed) include: 4CH (channel) radio receiver and flight controller. Flight batteries are extra too. The maker’s recommendation is an 11.1V 3300mAh 25C 3S Lithium.

The Not So Good

This is an excellent project for anyone with some experience though it’s not beginner-friendly. There’ aren’t any instructions either, and newbies may find the YouTube video tutorials hard to follow.

7. QWinOut X4 Carbon Fiber Foldable Drone Kit

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Editor’s Rating: 4.5/5

Last up is the QWinOut X4, a full carbon fiber drone kit with a foldable design. The X4 checks a lot of the right boxes for a quad in its class. It’s best suited to enthusiasts with some experience, though.

• Best feature 1: Foldable, full carbon fiber frame
• Best feature 2: Powerful 580KV motors
• Plus points: Lightweight, durable, DIY fully customizable design, foldable landing skid
• Minus points: Scant on details, little user feedback, no instruction manual

QWinOut X4 Highlights

The QWinOut X4 is lightweight, durable, and stable once assembled. Its fully foldable design (frame and landing skid) make it portable and easy to store when not in use. The fully customizable kit comes with four powerful 580KV motors to support drone functions. The assembled quad is a capable flying robot and as crash-resistant as a model can be in its category.

In the box of a new QWinOut X4 drone kit:

• 1 x QWinOut 560mm foldable full carbon fiber frame kit
• 4 x 40A Electronic Speed Controllers (ESC)
• 4 x MT3508 580KV motors
• 2 x (pairs) 1455 carbon fiber propellers
• 1 x Black reverse buckle tie
• 1 x (M) 16AWG connect wire

Items not in the box (but needed) include: minimum 4CH (channel) radio & receiver. Others are flight controller, flight batteries, and any custom parts or accessories required by the builder.

The Not So Good

There’s no doubt that this is an interesting drone kit, but it has a few drawbacks. The details are scant, and there’s no user feedback on sales pages. The package also lacks any instructions. It’s not something for novice drone builders to consider for these reasons. Experienced enthusiasts will recognize the parts and make informed decisions based on personal experience.