Recommended flight height and overlap per drone
Use this guide to find recommended flight height, forward overlap, and side overlap settings for your drone and sensor when capturing data for Propeller.
Drone flight settings
Flight height and image overlap settings help ensure your drone captures enough detail and coverage for accurate processing in Propeller. Use the table below as a starting point when planning your flight.
Settings may vary based on your site, terrain, camera, lighting, and the level of detail required. Always follow your organization’s flight procedures, local regulations, and the guidance from your drone and sensor manufacturer.
| Drone Name | Flight Height | Forward Overlap | Side Overlap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anzu Raptor | 200–400 ft (60–120 m) | ~80% | ~80% |
| Autel Evo II Pro RTK V1/V2 | 200–300 ft (60–90 m) | 80% | 80% |
| Autel Evo II Pro RTK V3 | 200–300 ft (60–90 m) | 80% | 80% |
| DJI Matrice 300/350 RTK — Zenmuse P1 | 250–400 ft (80–120 m) | ~75% | ~75% |
| DJI Matrice 300/350 RTK — L1/L2 Photogrammetry | 200–400 ft (60–120 m) | ~80% | ~80% |
| DJI Matrice 300/350 RTK — Zenmuse L1 LiDAR | 200 ft (60 m) | 80% | 50% |
| DJI Matrice 300/350 RTK — Zenmuse L2 LiDAR | 200 ft (60 m) | 70% | 20% |
| DJI Mavic 3 Enterprise | 200–400 ft (60–120 m) | ~80% | ~80% |
| DJI Matrice 4 Enterprise | 200–400 ft (60–120 m) | ~80% | ~80% |
| DJI Phantom 4 RTK | 260–400 ft (80–120 m) | ~75% | ~75% |
| Skydio X10 | 250 ft (~76 m) | 75% | 75% |
| WingtraOne Gen I / Gen II | Varies — at least 250 ft above highest point on site | 75% | 75% |
All your FAQs, answered
Flight overlap is how much each image overlaps with the next one captured during a drone flight. Forward overlap is the overlap between photos taken along the flight path, while side overlap is the overlap between adjacent flight lines.
Overlap helps photogrammetry software match points between images and create accurate maps, models, and measurements. Too little overlap can result in gaps, lower-quality outputs, or processing errors.
Use these settings as a starting point. Some sites may need different flight heights or overlap settings based on terrain, obstacles, lighting, ground sample distance requirements, or the specific drone and sensor in use.
If your drone or sensor isn’t listed, use the closest comparable setup as a starting point, then confirm the right settings with your drone documentation, internal flight standards, or Propeller support.