Infrared camera Drones, also known as thermal imaging drones, drone thermal imaging technology is a powerful tool for public safety, energy inspection and other industries, drones with infrared cameras will penetrate the scene and help make better and faster decisions.
How Do Infrared Drones Work?
Infrared cameras have built-in thermal imaging sensors that emit infrared energy to illuminate a spectrum that is invisible to the naked eye. Drones with infrared cameras can detect the heat emitted by objects and convert thermal energy into visible images, and finally display different temperature levels in various colors (thermal maps).
When drones are equipped with or compatible with infrared cameras, we refer to these drones as Infrared Drones. Infrared drones can scan large areas quickly and efficiently, even in low visibility conditions such as at night, fog or smoke.
Key Benefits of Infrared Drones:
- Public Safety & Search and Rescue – Locate missing persons or suspects in darkness or difficult terrain.
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Building & Infrastructure Inspections – Identify heat loss, water leaks, and electrical faults.
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Energy Sector – Monitor solar panels, power lines, and substations for efficiency and damage.
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Agriculture – Detect crop stress, irrigation issues, and livestock monitoring.
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Firefighting – Assess fire intensity, locate hotspots, and improve response times.
Top 5 Drones With Thermal Imaging Cameras
#1. DJI Mavic 2 Enterprise Dual | Entry-Level Infrared Camera Drone
| Maximum flight time: | 31 minutes |
| Transmission range: | 5 miles |
| Top Speed: | 45 mph |
| IR Resolution: | 160 x 120 |
The DJI Mavic 2 Enterprise Dual is an entry-level IR camera drone with a dual camera system, with a 4K optical camera and a low resolution (160×120) thermal sensor, since the FLIR thermal sensor has a fairly low resolution, it must fly Low enough to get accurate temperature data.
#2. DJI Mavic 2 Enterprise Premium | A Compact Infrared Drone For Surveying
| Maximum flight time: | 31 minutes |
| Transmission range: | 6.2 miles |
| Top Speed: | 45 mph |
| IR Resolution: | 640 x 512 |
The main difference of DJI Mavic 2 Enterprise Advanced is to upgrade the high-resolution (640×512 @ 30 Hz) thermal sensor of the drone camera, 48MP for shooting night shots, and support up to 32x digital zoom.
#3. DJI Matrice 300 RTK (with Zenmuse H20T) | High-Spec IR Camera Drone
| Maximum flight time: | 55 minutes |
| Transmission range: | 9.3 miles |
| Top Speed: | 51mph |
| IR Resolution: 640 x 512 | 640 x 512 |
The Matrice 300 RTK is rugged, IP45 water and dust resistant, and can also be equipped with the DJI Zenmuse H20T camera, a great camera with 4 sensors, laser rangefinder, wide angle, zoom and thermal camera.
#4. DJI Matrice 210 (with Zenmuse XT2) | Drone Thermal Camera Combo
| Maximum flight time: | 24 minutes |
| Transmission range: | 4 miles |
| Top Speed: | 40mph |
| IR Resolution: | 640 x 512 or 336 x 256 |
The DJI Matrice 210 is IP43-rated, rugged, crash-proof, 3-way obstacle avoidance sensors, and compatible with the Zenmuse XT2, which DJI offers separately. It's a 12MP/4K thermal camera that can get two different thermal resolutions: 336 x 256 (up to 4x digital zoom) and 640 x 512 (up to 8x digital zoom).
#5. Autel EVO II Dual 640T | Thermal Drone With High Resolution Infrared Imagery
| Maximum flight time: | 38 minutes |
| Transmission range: | 5.5 miles |
| Top Speed: | 45mph |
| IR Resolution: | 640 x 512 |
EVO II Dual 640T is equipped with a new generation thermal imager with a resolution of up to 640 x 512 @ 30 Hz, with 19 different types of sensors, with image enhancement support and multiple temperature measurement modes, capable of capturing from distances up to 100 meters to detailed objects.
The dual-camera EVO II Dual 640T provides omnidirectional obstacle avoidance, delivering 8K video and 48MP images in multiple photo modes, while easily building 3D maps and planning paths in real-time.
Autel EVO II Dual 640T V3 is the latest version of infrared thermal imaging drone, an industrial drone worth having.
Last Words
Which one is the best infrared drones for Sale? Here is a selection of the best drones with infrared cameras that are recommended in 2025. The best infrared sensor drones are mainly from DJI and Autel. The thermal sensors of infrared drones are mainly FLIR thermal imaging cameras and DJI's own thermal sensors. Usually, FLIR thermal imaging cameras are not compatible with most drones in DJI.
What Are Infrared Drones Used For?
Night photography--Infrared cameras rely on wavelength reflection for night photography, and the magnificent night city landscape will bring every driver a clear view.
- Flight Safety - One of the great uses of night flying drones is to use them for perimeter surveillance. To see images in the dark without being spotted, turn off your searchlights and fly with infrared light.
- Search and Rescue - drone with ir camera makes it easier to find missing persons in the dark, pinpoint missing or distressed persons.
- Inspections - Day or night, regardless of AQI, drones with thermal cameras will not be restricted, making construction and industrial inspections easy.
How Much Does A Drone With Infrared Cost?
Whether it is the best infrared drone or the cheap infrared drone, drone with ir camera will bring us more surprises and help, and serve more scenes. A drone with infrared must consider a high-resolution infrared camera, so the cost is expensive. Typically, an ir camera for drone costs $3,000 or more.
