I often get asked what motor size and KV should be used for FPV drones of certain prop size and LiPo voltage. There is no single answer but a range of options you can explore. So I made this list based on the builds I have flown and seen over the years, trying to give you an idea what sort of combinations are possible and popular.

I think this table would be useful for someone who’s building a new FPV drone and have no idea what motors they should/can use.

This is by no mean a complete list of every possible motor size and KV for each prop size / LiPo cell count. I have tried my best to come up with as many examples as I can. If you notice something is missing please do let me know in the comment. Your input would be greatly appreciated!

Dry weight is without battery.

Here are the definition of the terms used in the lookup table.

What’s a Whoop?

Whoops or Tiny Whoops are small quadcopters with prop guards or ducts. Tiny whoops typically have 31mm or 40mm propellers. There are also larger whoops that uses 2″ or even 2.5″ propellers.

What’s a Cinewhoop?

A Cinewhoop is a quadcopter with prop guards, typically running 3″ propellers and capable of carrying a GoPro for capturing cinematic footage.

What’s an Ultralight FPV Drone?

Ultralight FPV drones are as known as “Toothpicks” in the hobby, which are ultra-light quadcopters built with skinny frames and smaller motors. The focus is to reduce weight and improve performance over durability.

What’s a Long Range FPV Drone?

Main focus of a long range FPV drone is efficiency and flight time. They usually use less aggressive motors and powered by Li-ion battery pack, achieving 15mins, 30mins or even longer flight time.

What’s a Freestyle FPV Drone?

A freestyle FPV drone is for general purposes that doesn’t apply to any of the above. It offers a good balance between performance, durability, and the ability of carrying a GoPro for HD recording. Basically it’s just a powerful quad that you can bash around with.