In this guide
This article shows the formula and a worked example.
Application
How many hectares per hour can a spraying drone cover?
The honest answer is: it depends on swath, speed, field efficiency, tank and refill logistics. The useful answer is a calculation you can run on your own block.
By Commercial Drone FactoryUpdated 6 November 20265 min read
Quick answer
The formula is swath × speed × 0.36: a 6 m swath at 6 m/s gives about 13 ha/h, or about 9 ha/h at 70% field efficiency. A 70 L tank at 60 L/ha covers about 1.2 ha per fill; refill distance and battery swaps often decide the real day.
Formula
The formula
Theoretical hectares per hour = effective swath (m) × speed (m/s) × 0.36. Effective swath is narrower than the physical spray width because overlap and wind reduce coverage.
Effective hectares per hour = theoretical × field efficiency. Efficiency accounts for turns, refills, battery swaps and operator stops.
Example
Worked example
A 6 m swath at 6 m/s gives about 13 ha/h theoretical. At 70% efficiency, the planning number is about 9 ha/h. A 70 L tank at 60 L/ha covers about 1.2 ha per fill, so the refill cycle matters more than the top speed.
| Input | Value |
|---|---|
| Effective swath | 6 m |
| Speed | 6 m/s |
| Theoretical output | ≈13 ha/h |
| Field efficiency | 70% |
| Effective output | ≈9 ha/h |
| Tank / rate | 70 L / 60 L per ha |
| Hectares per tank | ≈1.2 ha |
Constraints
What reduces real output
- Small or irregular blocks with many turns.
- Long refill loops and water points far from the field.
- Battery swaps without a field charging plan.
- Wind, heat or product restrictions that shorten the window.
- Obstacles and terrain that force slower passes.
Tool
Run your own numbers
Use the coverage calculator with your swath, speed, efficiency, tank and rate. Treat the result as a planning number, then validate with a field demonstration.
Key takeaways
- The formula is swath × speed × 0.36.
- Field efficiency is the difference between theory and a day of work.
- Refill logistics often decide the real output.
Commercial Drone Factory/Updated 6 November 2026
Related guides
Application
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Next step
Check your block with a demonstration.
Send the block shape, swath and refill plan. We will compare the estimate with a field demo.