UK Drone Class Marks Explained: UK0 to UK6

A UK class mark is a label from the manufacturer, UK0 to UK6, that says a drone meets set safety standards and tells you which flying rules apply to it. Since 1 January 2026, new drones and model aircraft placed on the UK market must carry one. Drones bought before then are unlikely to have a mark, and you simply follow the rules for their weight.

This page is general information based on the CAA's Drone and Model Aircraft Code (March 2026 edition), as of October 2026. Rules can be amended, so confirm against the CAA before relying on it.

What each class mark means in practice

The Open Category splits into three subcategories. Your class mark, or your drone's weight if it has none, decides which one you fly in.

UK5 and UK6 are not covered by the Code at all. Flying them needs CAA authorisation.

Which qualification each subcategory needs

The Flyer ID covers A1 and A3. Flying in A2 needs the A2 Certificate of Competence on top, which is the route to using a UK2 drone at the shorter 30m distance. Without it, a UK2 drone is treated as A3 and you keep to the 50m and 150m rules. Operators must also check that anyone flying their aircraft holds the right certificate. The ID side is covered in UK drone rules: Flyer ID and Operator ID.

C-class marks from the EU

Many drones sold in the UK before and during the changeover carry a European C-class mark instead, where the manufacturer declares compliance with European class standards. The CAA allows a C-marked aircraft to be flown as the matching UK class until 31 December 2027. A C0 is treated as UK0, a C1 as UK1, and so on.

After that date, recognition of C marks ends. A drone that only has a C mark would then be handled as a legacy aircraft, with the rules decided by weight. If you are buying a drone now with a long ownership in mind, the CAA's own summary is worth reading, and so is the Remote ID page, because the 2028 changes depend partly on class.

Worked examples

1. A UK1 drone, Flyer ID held, no A2 certificate: you fly in A1, and may pass closer than 50m to and over uninvolved people, but never over a crowd.
2. A UK2 drone, Flyer ID only: you fly in A3, so you keep 50m from uninvolved people and 150m from residential, recreational, commercial and industrial areas.
3. A UK2 drone with the A2 Certificate of Competence: you can fly in A2, staying 30m from uninvolved people, or 5m in low-speed mode, and never over them.

Legacy drones with no class mark

A drone without a mark is not banned or obsolete. You can keep flying it by following the rules that apply to its weight. The practical differences are these:

• Under 250g: the Code lets aircraft below 250g fly in the A1 way, closer than 50m and over uninvolved people, though never over crowds.
• Under 2kg: can be flown in A2, kept at least 50m from uninvolved people and never over them.
• Under 25kg: can be flown in A3, away from people and from built-up areas by the stated distances.

Legacy status also affects Remote ID. Legacy drones of 100g or more with a camera have until 1 January 2028 to add Remote ID functionality, according to the CAA.

Reading a class mark when you shop

Look for the mark on the product packaging and on the aircraft itself, and ask the retailer if it is missing. A manufacturer's spec page sometimes lists the class, but it should be confirmed on the product, since a model can be sold in more than one market variant.

For where you can use whichever class you end up with, see where you can fly a drone in the UK. If you are choosing a first model, best beginner drones in the UK covers what to weigh up.