# What do drones look like at night?

**A flashing anti-collision strobe visible for 3 miles, plus small colored orientation lights.** At night a legally flown drone shows a bright, rapidly flashing anti-collision strobe. FAA Part 107.29 requires it to be visible for at least 3 statute miles with a flash rate sufficient to avoid a collision. Most drones also carry small red, green, and white orientation lights that show the pilot which way the drone faces. The strobe is what you notice: a hard, blinking point of light.

Last verified Jul 26, 2026. 1 sources.

## Short answer

A drone at night looks like a small, hard point of light that flashes rapidly and moves in ways an airplane does not, hovering, darting, or holding still. That flash is deliberate and required.

Under FAA Part 107.29, any drone flown at night must carry lighted anti-collision lighting visible for at least 3 statute miles, flashing fast enough to help other aircraft avoid a collision. That is a dedicated strobe, much brighter than the drone's own small lights, and the rule lets a pilot reduce its intensity for safety but never switch it off. The FAA does not mandate a color, so white, red, and green strobes are all used, though white tends to stand out best against a dark sky.

Separately, most drones carry small built-in navigation lights, usually red, green, and white, that tell the pilot which way the drone is pointing at close range. Those are orientation aids, not the 3-mile anti-collision light the rule requires, which is why pilots clip on a bright strobe for legal night flying. So if you see a fast-blinking light maneuvering low and oddly after dark, it is very likely a drone showing exactly the lights the rules require. The requirements here are attributed to the source below.

## The lights a drone shows at night

| What the sources show | Kind | As of | Who | Source |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| A legal night drone shows a flashing anti-collision light visible for 3 miles. FAA Part 107.29 requires a drone flown at night to carry lighted anti-collision lighting visible for at least 3 statute miles, flashing at a rate sufficient to avoid a collision. That is a bright, rapidly flashing strobe, far brighter than the drone's own status lights, and the pilot may dim but not turn it off. | Legal requirement | Jul 26, 2026 (as reported) | Rupprecht Law (citing FAA Part 107.29) | [Rupprecht Law](https://jrupprechtlaw.com/section-107-29-operations-at-night/) |
| Most drones also carry small red, green, and white orientation lights. Consumer drones ship with small navigation lights, typically red, green, or white, that help the pilot see the drone's direction at close range. Those built-in lights are useful but are not the 3-mile anti-collision strobe the FAA requires for legal night flight, so pilots add a dedicated strobe. | Onboard lighting | Jul 26, 2026 (as reported) | Rupprecht Law (citing FAA Part 107.29) | [Rupprecht Law](https://jrupprechtlaw.com/section-107-29-operations-at-night/) |

## How we know this

- [Rupprecht Law](https://jrupprechtlaw.com/section-107-29-operations-at-night/)

## Common questions

### How can you tell if a drone is flying at night?

Look for a small, bright light that flashes rapidly and moves unlike an airplane: hovering, changing direction sharply, or holding a fixed point in the sky. A legal drone must carry an anti-collision strobe visible for 3 miles, so the flash is deliberate and hard. Aircraft lights are steadier and follow smooth flight paths, while a drone can stop and hover, which no plane can do.

### What color lights do drones have at night?

Two kinds. The required anti-collision strobe can be white, red, or green (the FAA does not mandate a color, though white stands out most against a dark sky). Separately, drones usually carry small navigation lights, commonly red on one side, green on the other, and white, that help the pilot see the drone's orientation. So you may see a bright flashing strobe plus faint steady colored lights.

### Do drones have to have lights at night?

Yes. Under FAA Part 107.29, a drone flown at night must have anti-collision lighting visible for at least 3 statute miles with a flash rate sufficient to avoid a collision. The pilot may dim the light for safety but may not turn it off. A drone's built-in status lights are not enough on their own, so night flyers add a dedicated strobe to meet the rule.

### Can you fly a drone at night?

Yes, within the rules. Since 2021, Part 107 pilots can fly at night without a special waiver, provided they have completed updated training and the drone carries an anti-collision light visible for 3 statute miles. Recreational flyers must follow the safety guidelines of a recognized community-based organization, which also require lighting. Night flight is allowed, but only with the required lighting in place.

## Keep reading

- [Which eVTOL company is closest to FAA certification?](/evtol-faa-certification-tracker.md): Drones & eVTOL
- [Is drone delivery legal?](/is-drone-delivery-legal.md): Drones & eVTOL
- [What's the best drone to buy right now?](/whats-the-best-drone-to-buy.md): Drones & eVTOL
- [What's the best drone for beginners?](/best-drone-for-beginners.md): Drones & eVTOL
- [All verified answers](/answers.md): Every standing question DEPLOY tracks.
- [Can drones fly in the rain?](/can-drones-fly-in-the-rain.md): The other weather-and-conditions question.

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