Drone spraying cost in Utah
Researched per-acre rates for agricultural drone spraying in Utah — estimate your job, see the crop-by-crop breakdown, and compare operators.
Estimated cost in Utah
$1,920–$3,520
$12–$22/acre × 160 acres
What’s driving this
- Utah base rate
- $12–$22/acre (row crop)
- Gallons per acre
- 2 GPA → ×1.00
Application only — product & chemical extra.
Sources & how this is estimated
Estimate only — actual rates vary by field size, terrain, and product. Application only; product/chemical extra. Data as of 2026.
Sources: My Drone Sprayer / Ag Proud - Avary Drone (Lehi, Utah operator; $15-22/acre; sprayed several thousand acres across UT/ID); Avary Drone (Lehi, UT) - Part 137 ag operator; Ag Drone Directory 2026 Rates Guide (national specialty $18-35; specialty markets $18-40)
Drone spraying cost by crop in Utah
| Crop | Typical cost ($/acre) | Grown in UT (acres) |
|---|---|---|
| Alfalfa & Hay | $12–$22 | 449,495 |
| Wheat | $12–$22 | 99,102 |
| Corn | $12–$22 | 24,830 |
| Barley | $12–$22 | 14,635 |
| Cherries | $20–$39 | 3,282 |
| Orchards | $20–$40 | — |
| Pasture & Rangeland | $11–$20 | — |
| Specialty Crops | $19–$37 | — |
Cost is application only; product/chemical extra — estimates, so request quotes for exact pricing. Acreage is USDA Census of Agriculture 2022 (harvested acres, or bearing acres for tree/vine/berry crops).
What’s grown in Utah
The crops that cover the most ground in Utah, by acreage — every one is a candidate for aerial spraying. Share is of the state’s tracked-crop acreage in the 2022 USDA Census of Agriculture.
Source: USDA NASS Census of Agriculture 2022 — acres harvested (field crops) and acres bearing (tree, vine & berry crops). Broad categories like pasture and mixed specialty crops aren’t charted here.
What drives the price in Utah
Per-acre rates move with the crop (dense orchard and vineyard canopies cost more than open row crops), the carrier volume (more gallons per acre means more refills and fewer acres per hour), the number of passes, field size and terrain, and whether a restricted-use pesticide is applied (which adds a certified-applicator and recordkeeping surcharge).Utah’s base rate also reflects local regulation, labor, and field geometry.
Sources & confidence
Utah estimate · low confidence · data as of 2026 — DERIVED with one solid in-state operator anchor: Avary Drone (Lehi, UT) quotes $15-22/acre and works the UT/ID Intermountain region. Row typical set to $16 (operator midpoint, above Iowa) with low/high $12-22. Utah has substantial high-value specialty acreage (Wasatch Front orchards/cherries, vineyards) in small, terraced blocks, so the specialty band is lifted to $20-40, typical $28. costIndex 1.10 reflects terrain, small high-value blocks, and thin operator supply. Confidence low: single in-state rate point, no Utah extension aerial survey located.
19 drone-spraying operators serve Utah, quoting roughly $14–$30/acre. Compare them and request free quotes.
Get quotes in UtahMore on drone spraying cost
Drone spraying cost in Utah: FAQs
- How much does drone spraying cost in Utah?
- In Utah, drone spraying runs about $12–$22 per acre for row crops and $20–$40 per acre for orchards, vineyards, and specialty crops (application only, product extra), about 28% above the national median. Field size, carrier volume (gallons per acre), passes, and product all move the number — request quotes for an exact figure.
- Why does drone spraying cost above in Utah?
- Per-acre rates vary by state with regulatory load (permitting, buffer zones, applicator licensing), labor and fuel costs, field size and geometry, and crop mix. Utah's rate reflects those local factors versus the national median.
- Does a restricted-use pesticide cost more to apply in Utah?
- Usually a little. Restricted-use products require a certified applicator, extra recordkeeping and notification, and stricter buffers — a modest per-acre surcharge (often a couple of dollars an acre) on top of the base rate.
- How does gallons per acre change the price?
- Higher carrier volume (more gallons per acre) means more refills and fewer acres per hour, so per-acre cost rises with GPA. Low-volume row-crop jobs (~2 GPA) are cheapest; California and specialty orchard/vineyard work at 5–10 GPA costs more. This is where the technology has moved fastest, though — today's flagship tanks hold roughly 26 gallons, about five times the 2020 models, so drones now cover higher-GPA work far more efficiently than they used to.