How do you finance an agricultural spray drone?
Farms, custom applicators and ag retailers can finance a spray drone the way they’d finance a sprayer: one fixed monthly payment for the drone and the gear it needs. Here’s what new spray drones and full setups cost in 2026, what the payments look like, and the FAA paperwork to start now for 2027.
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How does agricultural drone financing work?
The funder pays the dealer, and your business pays it back in fixed monthly payments, with the drone as collateral. An equipment finance agreement, or EFA, is the ag drone loan most people picture: you own the drone from day one and pay it off over 24 to 84 months. A lease runs 24 to 60 months with a $1, 10% or fair market value (FMV) buyout.
To start, send the dealer’s itemized quote and a copy of the operator’s Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate. The application begins with a soft credit inquiry, and most people hear back within 1 to 2 business hours. Many programs start around a 600 FICO for established businesses. Qualifying deals up to $500,000 can be decided on the application alone, clean application-only files can be approved in as little as 30 minutes, and standard deals fund 24 to 48 hours after you sign. You’ll usually need to insure the drone and name the funder as loss payee.
Our commercial drone financing page has the full program, and our drone equipment financing guide covers other kinds of drones.
How much does a spray drone cost in 2026?
Complete crop spraying drone kits listed at U.S. dealers in October 2026 run from about $19,900 for a compact DJI Agras T25P to about $65,000 for a Hylio Atlas bundle, and what’s in the box varies.
| Drone | Spray tank | What the listed price includes | New, listed price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hylio Pegasus (built in Texas) | 2.5 gal | Controller, 3 batteries, a charger and the sprayer | $27,045 bundle (from $15,999) |
| DJI Agras T25P | 20 L (about 5.3 gal) | Remote, 3 batteries and a charger | $19,895 |
| DJI Agras T50 | 40 L (about 10.6 gal) | Remote, 3 batteries, a charger and a spreader | $28,583 |
| Hylio Ares (built in Texas) | 13 gal (50 L) | Controller, RTK base, 3 batteries, a charger, and spray and spreader tanks | $45,999 bundle (from $44,450) |
| ABZ Innovation L50 (EU-made) | 50 L (13.2 gal) | 4 batteries and a charger | $37,132 |
| XAG P150 | 70 L (18.5 gal) | Remote, 8 batteries, 2 chargers, 2 cooling towers and an RTK module | $30,000 |
| DJI Agras T100 | 100 L (about 26.4 gal) | Remote, 3 batteries and a charger, or a 14,000-watt generator in place of the charger | $39,999; $42,719 with the generator |
| Hylio Atlas (built in Texas) | 30 gal | Controller, 6 batteries, 2 chargers and the sprayer | $64,998 bundle (from $59,999) |
Listed prices on U.S. dealers’ websites, checked October 16, 2026, before tax and any freight or setup charges. Hylio contents and starting prices are from Apple Farm Service, which listed the Pegasus and Atlas for pre-order; another dealer shows the same Hylio prices as base configurations, so confirm what’s included. These are listed asking prices, not appraisals or offers. Five West has no affiliation with these makers or sellers.
Since September 3, 2026, most imported drones over 25 kg maximum takeoff weight, including the DJI and XAG models above, carry an extra 100% import duty when they enter the U.S. Dealer prices can change, so get a current written quote.
What does a complete spray drone setup cost?
More than the drone. A working setup adds spare batteries, charging power for the field, a spreader for dry products, and a way to mix, haul and refill. October 2026 listed prices:
| Piece | Example | Listed price |
|---|---|---|
| Extra flight battery | DJI DB2160 (T100); DJI DB1560 (T50); Hylio Ares battery | $4,088; $2,499; $2,550 |
| Charger | DJI C12000; Hylio Ares charger | $2,279; $2,750 |
| Spreader | DJI 150 L spreading system (T100) | $3,459 |
| Mixing system | Drone Cone 200-gallon mixing system | From $7,799 |
| Truck-bed tender unit | Roadrunner tendering unit, for crews that work from a pickup | $17,500 |
| Tender trailer | Drone Spray Pro 16-foot trailer with a 22-foot flight deck; Drone Spray Pro 40-foot gooseneck trailer with an enclosed control room | $16,999; $46,200 |
Listed asking prices checked October 16, 2026, not appraisals or offers.
Add three more batteries and the 150-liter spreader to the T100 kit with a generator, and $42,719 becomes $58,442. I’d price the batteries and charging power with the drone, not after the first busy week of the season.
Can the batteries, generator and trailer go on one agreement?
Yes. The drone, its spray and spreading systems, spare batteries, chargers and generators, the controller and RTK base, a tender trailer or mixing rig, and software licenses can all go on one agreement with one payment. One agreement can also cover a whole fleet, from our usual $15,000 minimum to $5 million and above.
The minimum matters for compact drones. A DJI Agras T25 with its remote lists at $12,999.99 at Ares Acres, so it goes on the agreement with its batteries, charger and spreader.
What’s the monthly payment on a spray drone?
For an established operation at an assumed 9% with nothing down, these setups run about $495 to $4,706 a month. Every $10,000 financed adds about $318 a month on 36 months or $249 on 48.
| Example setup | Price | 36 months | 48 months |
|---|---|---|---|
| DJI Agras T25P ready-to-fly kit | $19,895 | About $633 | About $495 |
| DJI Agras T50 complete bundle (with a spreader) | $28,583 | About $909 | About $711 |
| Hylio Ares bundle plus 3 more batteries and a second charger | $56,399 | About $1,793 | About $1,403 |
| DJI Agras T100 generator kit plus 3 more batteries and the 150 L spreader | $58,442 | About $1,858 | About $1,454 |
| Hylio Atlas bundle with a 200-gallon mixing system and a 16-foot trailer | $89,796 | About $2,855 | About $2,235 |
| Two T100 kits with generators, 4 more batteries and a 40-foot trailer | $147,990 | About $4,706 | About $3,683 |
Examples for established businesses only: an assumed 9%, nothing down, payments in arrears, and the listed prices above before tax and any freight or setup charges. A deferred first payment or a seasonal schedule changes these numbers. Illustrative, not an offer.
How long can you finance a spray drone?
Up to 84 months on an EFA or 60 on a lease, but I’d keep a spray drone on 36 or 48 months. The term can’t outrun the equipment’s useful life, and aircraft improve quickly. If you expect to move up to a bigger drone in a few years, an FMV lease gives you the lowest payment and an upgrade path at the end.
Can the payments follow your season? On many programs, yes. Approvals are sized to seasonal windows, so applying in late winter for spring spraying is routine. A spray drone bought for a season is often financed with the first payment deferred until the season starts, and many programs offer seasonal or skip payments.
What do the FAA and your state require before you spray?
Three sets of approvals on top of the pilot’s Part 107 certificate, and the FAA needs months of lead time:
- An FAA Part 137 certificate. Part 137 covers aircraft, drones included, that dispense pesticides, fertilizer, seed and other farm products. Every operator needs an Agricultural Aircraft Operator Certificate, and you can apply for one only after you receive your exemption number.
- FAA exemptions, including Section 44807 for drones of 55 pounds or more. Part 107 covers drones under 55 pounds at takeoff, liquid included. Heavier drones fly under Parts 91 and 137 with an exemption and an N-number. Even the compact Agras T25P is over that line: DJI lists it at 33 kg, about 73 pounds, with its battery and an empty tank. Lighter drones still need exemptions from Part 107’s hazardous-materials rule and several Part 137 rules.
- A state pesticide applicator license that covers aerial work. South Dakota requires category 17 aerial certification. Vermont requires commercial certification, a company license, Category 11 aerial certification and a UAS permit. Washington’s license depends on your employer and the pesticides you use. And the product label has to allow aerial application.
The FAA asks for exemption petitions at least 120 days before you need them. To spray by April 1, 2027, that means filing by December 2, 2026. If I were buying for next season, I’d get the petition filed before the drone ships.
Can you still buy a DJI or other foreign-made spray drone?
Usually, if the model already had FCC authorization. Since December 22, 2025, foreign-made drones and their critical components have been on the FCC’s Covered List, so new foreign-made models can’t get FCC authorization unless they’re exempt or hold a Conditional Approval, as ABZ Innovation’s L50 does. Models the FCC authorized earlier can still be imported, sold and used.
Two proposals could change that. In July 2026 the FCC proposed ending imports and sales of previously authorized drones from XAG and eight other companies, and of foreign drones it calls military-grade, which include any drone of 55 pounds or more and any drone that can dispense pesticides. That second one would reach foreign-made spray drones that aren’t exempt. Neither was on the FCC’s list of import and marketing prohibitions as of its October 13, 2026 update, and both said drones already bought could keep flying. Before you sign, ask the dealer to confirm the model is FCC-authorized and supported.
Does Section 179 apply if you buy a spray drone before December 31?
Usually, yes, as long as the drone is ready to fly by December 31. For 2026, the Section 179 limit is $2,560,000, phasing out above $4,090,000 of equipment placed in service, and bonus depreciation is 100% for property acquired after January 19, 2025. A drone on an EFA or a $1 buyout lease placed in service by December 31 is deducted like a cash purchase. On an FMV lease, you deduct the payments as rent instead.
The IRS counts property as placed in service when it’s ready and available for its specific use, even if you aren’t using it yet. So a drone that’s delivered, assembled and ready in December can count for 2026 even though it won’t spray until spring. Confirm it with your CPA. Our Section 179 year-end playbook has a week-by-week plan.
Can a new drone spraying business get financing?
Yes, selectively. Under a year in business, a drone spraying business is underwritten as a startup, and those programs typically look for:
- Personal credit of 700 or better.
- Experience you can document in the work the drone will do, such as spraying for a farm, co-op or ag retailer.
- A down payment, and working capital left after the purchase.
- Signed or pending contracts for the season. They make a much stronger file than a business plan alone.
So if you’re writing a drone spraying business plan, put the acres and customers you’ve already lined up on the first page.
The payment examples above are for established businesses only. Our guide to startup equipment financing covers what startup programs look for. If I were starting out, I’d buy one drone and the batteries to keep it busy, then add a second once the contracts are there.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a spray drone cost?
Listed prices for new spray drone kits at U.S. dealers in October 2026 ran from about $19,900 for a DJI Agras T25P kit to about $65,000 for a Hylio Atlas bundle. Most kits include a few batteries and a charger. A DJI Agras T100 kit with a generator, three more batteries and the 150-liter spreader comes to about $58,400. Prices can change, so get a current written quote.
How much is the DJI Agras T100?
The ready-to-fly kit, with the remote, three DB2160 batteries and a charger, listed at $39,999 at several U.S. dealers in October 2026. A kit with a 14,000-watt generator in place of the charger listed at $42,719, and extra DB2160 batteries listed at $4,088 each.
How much does a Hylio drone cost?
Hylio builds its spray drones in Texas. In October 2026, Apple Farm Service listed the Pegasus from $15,999, the Ares from $44,450 and the Atlas from $59,999, with bundles that add batteries and charging at $27,045, $45,999 and $64,998. Another dealer shows the same prices as base configurations, so confirm what’s included.
Can the first payment on a spray drone wait until the season?
Often, yes. A spray drone bought for a season is often financed with the first payment deferred until the season starts, and many programs offer seasonal or skip payments. Approvals are sized to seasonal windows, so applying in late winter for spring spraying is routine.
What licenses do you need to spray crops with a drone?
A Part 107 remote pilot certificate, an FAA Agricultural Aircraft Operator Certificate under Part 137, FAA exemptions (under Section 44807 for drones of 55 pounds or more), and a state pesticide applicator license that covers aerial application. The FAA asks for exemption petitions at least 120 days before you need them.
Do you need a Part 107 certificate to finance a spray drone?
Yes. Five West needs a copy of the operator’s FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate on every drone deal. Spraying also takes FAA Part 137 approval and a state applicator license, so it pays to start that paperwork when you start shopping.
Can a new drone spraying business get financing?
Yes, selectively. Under a year in business, the file is underwritten as a startup, which typically means 700+ personal credit, documented experience in spraying or similar work, a down payment, and working capital left after the purchase. Signed or pending contracts for the season make a much stronger file than a business plan alone.
Does Section 179 apply to a spray drone bought in December?
In most cases, if the drone is delivered and ready to fly by December 31, even if it won’t spray until spring. The 2026 limit is $2,560,000, phasing out above $4,090,000 of equipment placed in service, and financing it on an equipment finance agreement or a $1 buyout lease doesn’t change the deduction. Confirm with your CPA.
Price your spray drone.
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This article is general information about financing agricultural spray drones and the equipment that supports them, not tax, legal, or accounting advice or a commitment to finance. Prices shown are dealers’ listed asking prices, not appraisals or offers. FAA, FCC and state rules change, so check the agencies’ current guidance before you buy or fly. Tax and accounting treatment depends on your contract and your business; confirm with your CPA. All financing is subject to credit approval and underwriting.