The Ultimate Guide to FPV Drone Propellers
For a FPV drone pilot, the propellers you use have a big impact on how well your drone performs and handles. A smooth and stable flight can be achieved with the correct props, as opposed to a wobbly and unstable one. This comprehensive FPV drone propellers guide will cover all the information you require to select the ideal props for your FPV drone.
What’s a Propeller?
The unsung heroes of an FPV drone parts are the propellers, commonly known as the props. Propeller rotation through the engines creates a powerful downward wind. The drone is raised when the force produced overcomes the pull of gravity. The drone can climb, descend, accelerate, and decelerate by changing the motors’ speed, which changes how much push the props produce.
We offer a thorough explanation of the various aspects of FPV drone props performance in this tutorial, including pitch, shape, and the number of blades. This tutorial will explain how to select the proper props for your quadcopter, boosting your flying experience regardless of your level of experience. Discover all there is to know about propellers to advance your quadcopter flying.
Reading the Propeller Numbers
You might have noticed when looking at props that most of them have a string of numbers attached to them. Let’s break down how to read these statistics because different companies may name their products in a way that makes interpretation challenging.
FPV drone propeller manufacturers use 3 types of format:
- L x P x B or LP x B or LP,
- L = length; P = pitch; B = blade count.
For instance, 5 x 4.3 x 3 Tri-Blade means 5” props, 4.3” pitch and 3 blades; iFlight Nazgul 5140 Tri-Blade has 5.1”, 3-bladed props at 4” pitch; and MEPS SPACE SZ4942 Prop is 4.9” in diameter and has 4.2” pitch.
Propeller direction
Propeller direction refers to the orientation in which a propeller rotates on a drone. Proper propeller direction is crucial for safe and efficient flight performance. Most props are arranged in pairs, with two rotating clockwise (CW) and two rotating counterclockwise (CCW). This configuration ensures stable and balanced flight as the opposing forces of the props cancel each other out.
It’s important to install the propellers correctly according to the motor rotation direction. If a propeller is installed in the wrong direction or on the wrong motor, it could cause the FPV drone to spin out of control or crash.
Propellers are often sold in pairs, CW and CCW, when purchased. In order to create downward force for the drone to take flight, the props must spin in a way that allows the leading edge to first cut through the air before the air exits via the following edge. Finding a prop’s leading edge, which is typically designated on the blade as either CW or CCW, makes determining its direction simple.
Things to Consider when Choosing FPV Drone Propellers
Size
The size of the propeller is an essential factor to consider when choosing quadcopter props. Naturally, larger props produce more force when spinning since they have a larger surface area. In addition, it “grips” better in the air because to the larger surface area, which improves its performance in tight bends. However, it requires more power to run because the props are heavier.
Smaller props, on the other hand, will spin with less thrust. Similar to how it has less “grip” in the air due to the reduced surface area. As a result of the smaller and lighter weight of the props, the drone may accelerate and decelerate more quickly, giving you the impression that it is more “responsive” to your commands.
Pitch
FPV propeller pitch refers to the distance that a prop would travel if it rotated through one full revolution. It’s measured in inches or millimeters and is typically listed as a number followed by an “x” and another number, such as 5×3 or 6×4.5.
The first number indicates the diameter of the propeller, while the second number represents the pitch. A higher pitch means that the propeller produces more thrust but requires more power to spin, while a lower pitch produces less thrust but requires less power.
Choosing the right propeller pitch for your quadcopter depends on several factors, such as the size and weight of your drone, the motor and ESC configuration, and your flying style. Generally, lower pitch propellers are better for slower, more stable flights, while higher pitch props are better for faster, more aggressive flights.
Number of blades
Props could have two, three, four, or even more blades. Without a doubt, the thrust produced by the props on your drone actually reduces as the number of blades increases. The outcome is nearly identical to installing longer propellers. However, installing longer blades is unnecessary if you have more than one blade. According to analysis, tri-blade propellers are typically substantially superior than two-blade propellers. Tri-blade drones often follow a torque curve, which makes the yaw axis extremely sensitive.
Material
You’ll typically be given the choice between plastic and carbon fiber. The former is by far the material that is utilized the most frequently in modern props.Plastic propellers are less expensive and rigid. They are more durable thanks to their flexibility, which is a crucial quality for beginning pilots.
Propellers made of carbon fiber perform better and are quieter. Although expensive, they are perfect for seasoned drone pilots who have a lower crash rate.For delicate situations where less vibration is essential, I suggest using carbon fiber props.
Thrust and Efficiency
Your props must ultimately generate thrust. Your drone moves by thrust. The design (and motor) of the props determines how much push they can generate. Your props should generate as much thrust as feasible.
The amount of electricity needed to operate a prop depends on its specifications. For instance, higher pitch props require more power to operate. Because of this, the motor is less effective, resulting in higher power consumption per unit of push produced. For long-distance flying, efficiency comes first because you want to get the most flight time possible. Efficiency is not a huge problem if you are participating in FPV racing. You require some thrust. In general, efficiency decreases as thrust increases.
FPV Propellers Recommendations
| Frame Size | Prop Size | Motor Size | Motor KV | Lipo battery |
| 120mm or smaller | 3 inch | 1104 – 1105 | 4000KV+ | 80-800mAh 1s/2s |
| 150mm – 160mm | 3-4 inch | 1306 – 1407 | 3000KV+ | 600-900mAh 2s/3s |
| 180mm | 4 inch | 1806 – 2204 | 2600KV+ | 1000-1300mAh 3s/4s |
| 210mm | 5 inch | 2204 – 2206 | 2300KV-2700KV | 1000-1300mAh 3s/4s |
| 250mm | 6 inch | 2204 – 2208 | 2000KV-2300KV | 1300-1800mAh 3s/4s |
| 330mm – 350mm | 7, 8 inch | 2208 – 2212 | 1500KV-1600KV | 2200-3200mah 3s/4s |
| 450mm – 500mm | 9,10,11 inch | 2212 – 2216 | 800KV-1000KV | 3300mAh 4s or + |
Indoors
The whoop class sizes range from 31 to 95 mm. They usually have Whoop-style vents and are safe to use to bounce around inside your home. Here are my recommendations.
MEPS 1218 Propeller 2pairs/bag
- Specially designed for Tinywhoops.
- High Resistance to Damage.
- Three color options.
- Matching 0802 motor
Gemfan1635-3
- Patented design and unique shape
- Props are optimized for racing
- High durability and extremely lightweight
- Excellent quality
- Matching 1103 motor
Outdoors
Empty playgrounds, underground parking lots, and other types of small fields are all suitable locations for outdoor flying.These are places where I prefer to fly 3 inch prop quadcopter. Here are my recommendations.
HQ3520-3
With HQ 3520 Prop, increase your speed, power, and control. The three-blade HQ 3520 props will advance your flying grace to a new level. Its three-blade design and 3.5 inch prop diameter may give your quadcopter excellent liftoff power. It is manufactured of thin PC material.
- Matching 1404 motor
Gemfan3028-3
- PACK OF 16 PROPELLERS, 8 Clockwise (CW) & 8 Counter-Clockwise (CCW) + 1 RAYCorp Battery Strap – Color: Clear Red (16 Props)
- One of the Most Used Propeller for sub 250-sized quadocopters, hexacopters and FPV racers
- 100% Genuine & Brand New. Made with High Quality Polycarbonate for Maximum Performance, Durability and Balance.
- Perfect for 210 and 180 sized FPV racers like : QAV210, QAV180, ZMR210, ZMR180, SRD 180, SRD 210 or Walkera F210 & other multirotors, quadcopters and hexacopter.
- Top-Notch Manufacturing Standards for Optimal Product Quality
- Matching 1404 motor
Racing and Freestyle
The 5 inch prop is the norm for racing. To find the ideal blend for you, experiment with your motor’s pitch and coupling. Additionally, freestyle is similar to racing in that you can experiment with your motor’s pitch and coupling to discover the best combination for you.
MEPS SZ4942 Racing Drone Prop
- Special blade design provides greater thrust.
- Smooth surface reduces wind resistance.
- Polycarbonate material with better durability.
- Recommendation – Freestyle Motor SZ2306; Racing Motor SZ2207.
MEPS SZ5145 Propeller for FPV Racing Drone
- Special blade design provides greater thrust.
- Selected PC materials for lighter weight.
- Larger pitch for higher speed.
- Recommendation – Freestyle Motor SZ2306; Racing Motor SZ2207.
Long Range
You can now access 6 inch and 7 inch props. Although they will consume more power, long-range experts have discovered that using a big battery and the right mid KV can help you accomplish remarkably extended flight periods.
For 6 inch–HQ6040-3
- HQ Prop 6040 Triple blade V1S Black 2CW+2CCW Polycarbonate
- The durable multirotor props are robust and unbreakable!
- Recommendation – MEPS Motor SZ2806.5
For 7 inch–HQProp DP 7X3.5X3 V1S PC Propeller
Long-range pilots may now enjoy very smooth flights and jello-free videos thanks to HQProp’s launching of a 7″ three-blade prop.
- Recommendation – MEPS Motor SZ2806.5