RC Helicopter Sizes

RC helicopter size classes from sub 250 to 800, and which to buy.

RC Helicopter Sizes

RC helicopters are grouped by class, and the class number loosely tracks the size of the machine and its main rotor - a bigger number means bigger blades, more power and a higher cost to run. It is the single most useful number when buying, because it tells you roughly what the machine costs to run, how much space it needs, and how much wind it will tolerate.

The classes

Sub 250 - indoor and garden machines. Light, cheap to repair, and the safest place to learn to hover.
250 size - still small, but usable outside in calm conditions. A common step up from indoor flying.
300 size - a useful middle ground between indoor toys and the mainstream outdoor sizes.
450 size - the classic learner and sport machine. Huge parts availability and the size most people learn 3D on.
500 size - noticeably more stable in wind than a 450, without the running costs of the big classes.
550 size - popular for sport and 3D flying, and a common competition size.
600 size - serious machines for experienced pilots, and stable enough to fly in conditions that would ground a 450.
700 size - the mainstream competition class. Big, powerful, expensive to crash.
800 size - the largest we stock. Scale realism and presence, for pilots who already know what they are doing.

Which size should you buy?

Bigger is easier to fly, not harder. A larger helicopter is more stable, less affected by wind and easier to see at distance - which is why almost nobody learns on a 700 but almost nobody stays on a 250 either. What bigger costs you is money: blades, batteries, motors and the price of a crash all scale with the machine.

For most people learning outdoors, a 450 or 500 is the sensible answer. Learn to hover on something small and cheap indoors or on a simulator first, then buy the size you actually want to fly rather than a stepping stone you will outgrow in a season.

A note on the numbers

Class sizes are approximate and vary between manufacturers - a 550 from one brand may take slightly different blades from another. Always check the blade length, canopy and spares a specific model needs rather than assuming the class number covers it.

See all RC helicopters, helicopter blades, or our blog post on different sizes of helicopters.