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Spray drone acres per hour calculator

The fast answer: acres per hour is swath width times ground speed, adjusted for overlap and real field efficiency. Use this to compare quote claims, not to set a label rate.

Spray productivity

29.5acres/hour

Theoretical pass rate is 39.3 acres/hour before field turns, refills, and setup drag.

Swath

30 ft

Speed

12 mph

Overlap

10%

Efficiency

75%

Scouting estimate

22.1 ac/hr

Practical plan

29.5 ac/hr

Aggressive ceiling

39.3 ac/hr

What changes it most: effective swath and field efficiency move the answer fastest; overlap and refill drag can erase a big brochure number.

ft
mph
%
%
DJI Agras T50 agricultural drone spraying in a field
Field capacity math sets the time ceiling. Tank refills, battery swaps, ferry time, and turns pull the real number well below the theoretical pass rate.

What the result means

The calculator uses the ASABE field-capacity relationship: effective width in feet × ground speed in mph ÷ 8.25 = acres per hour at 100% efficiency. The 8.25 divisor converts the foot × mph product into acres per hour (one acre = 43,560 ft², one mph = 5,280 ft/hr; 43,560 ÷ 5,280 ≈ 8.25). The efficiency slider pulls the number back toward reality for turnarounds, refills, wind checks, battery swaps, and plot shape.

If a sales claim assumes perfect field efficiency, treat it as a best-case pass rate. Operators quoting work should quote from the practical number and keep margin for ferry time and mixing.

Worked examples

Row-crop benchmark. A 30-foot swath at 12 mph has a theoretical pass rate near 43.6 acres per hour. With 10% overlap and a field day running at 75% efficiency after turns, refills, checks, and battery handling, the practical number lands near 29 acres per hour.

Assumptions to check before quoting

  • The swath is the effective treated width, not just rotor span. Verify with water-sensitive paper, not the spec sheet.
  • Ground speed is sustainable in the crop and terrain.
  • Overlap matches the coverage requirement and wind conditions.
  • Field efficiency includes refills, turns, ferry time, and short stops. ASABE typical ranges run 65–85% for ground equipment; drone work commonly lands at the lower end because of short-cycle battery and tank refills.

How to use the number

Use the practical result to compare aircraft, quote custom work, or decide whether ownership beats hiring a service. Do not use it to override pesticide-label directions, calibration checks, or state applicator requirements.