Is it 120 metres or 400 feet?

It is the same figure in two units: 120 metres is about 394 feet, and the 400 foot reference comes from regulations in other countries. In the European Union the regulatory figure for the open category is 120 metres.

Can I fly higher than 120 metres?

In the open category and in the standard scenarios, only with the exception for artificial obstacles taller than 105 metres, and there it is 15 metres above the obstacle while staying within 50 metres of it. Going beyond that needs an operational authorisation: under that regime the vertical limit is whatever your approved ConOps states.

If I fly on a mountain, can I climb 120 metres from the summit?

Yes, because the measurement is above the closest point of the ground and there the ground is the summit itself. The problem appears as you move away towards the valley, where the ground drops beneath the drone.

Does height over water count?

The water surface acts as the ground for this purpose. Flying out to sea from a cliff, the reference becomes the water level and the available margin changes abruptly.

What if the drone climbs by itself on return to home?

The automatic return function usually climbs to a configured height before coming back, and that climb can take you out of the limit or into a zone. It is worth setting it to the terrain of each flight.

How high can I fly my drone?

The 120 metre ceiling above the closest point of the surface of the earth applies in the open category and in the standard scenarios too, and there are two traps in that. The first is that it is not 120 metres above the spot where you took off, which is what your altimeter measures. The second is that this ceiling is not universal: only under an operational authorisation does the vertical limit become whatever your approved ConOps states. Downwards, on the other hand, any geographical zone can lower it.

Common European Union framework. Your country may add its own conditions.Reviewed on September 17, 2026

In short

The 120 metres apply in the open category and in the standard scenarios, and they are measured above the ground, not above sea level nor above the take-off point.
Only under an operational authorisation is the ceiling set by the approved ConOps: there the 120 metres cease to be the applicable limit.
Within the open category, within 50 metres horizontally of an artificial obstacle taller than 105 metres you may climb up to 15 metres above its height, at the request of whoever is responsible for it.
Many geographical zones impose a lower ceiling: in Portugal, the airport rings cap the open category at 30, 60 or 80 metres.
A consumer drone's altimeter measures from take-off, so its reading is not the quantity the rule asks for.

Above the ground, not above you

The rule speaks of the distance to the closest point of the surface of the earth. If you take off at the bottom of a valley and fly towards the hillside, the ground rises beneath the drone: your altimeter still reads eighty metres while the real height above terrain may be twenty.

The other way round is worse. If you take off at the top of a cliff and fly out over the sea, the ground falls away at once and the drone sits well above 120 metres without you having touched the climb stick.

What your altimeter measures is not what the rule asks for

Almost every consumer drone measures height relative to the take-off point, using a barometer and sometimes ground sensors. That reading is useful for flying and it is not the one the rule requires.

To know your real height above terrain you have to cross the drone's position with an elevation model. That is what AXPA does when planning: it shows the terrain profile under the route and where you would exceed the limit, before the flight rather than after.

The ceiling is not the same in every category

This is the nuance most often oversimplified. The 120 metres are not only the open category's: the standard scenarios operate under that ceiling as well. What does change the limit is the operational authorisation, where the applicable vertical limit is whatever the ConOps approved by the aviation authority states, and it need not be 120 metres.

Put another way: an inspection that needs to climb higher is not impossible, it is an operation of another category. What is not advisable is assuming the limit: under an authorisation, the number that counts is the one in your authorisation, and it has to be verified operation by operation.

The tall obstacle exception

Within the open category there is one case where the general limit can be exceeded. If you fly within 50 metres horizontally of an artificial obstacle taller than 105 metres, such as a tower, a chimney or a wind turbine, the ceiling may rise to 15 metres above that obstacle's height, at the request of whoever is responsible for it. It is not permission to climb freely: it is 15 metres, and only right next to the obstacle.

This is the exception that makes inspecting tall structures possible without leaving the open category. Portugal additionally has its own obstacle-height exception in aerodrome environments, with a 75 metre radius.

Zones lower your ceiling

The 120 metres are a general ceiling, not a guarantee. Many geographical zones set a lower one: aerodrome environments, control zones and certain protected areas. In Portugal the rings around international airports cap the open category at 30, 60 and 80 metres above the surface depending on the ring.

So the permitted height at a point is the lower of two figures: the limit of your operating regime and whatever the zone above you imposes. Checking only one of the two leaves the flight half verified.

Frequently asked questions

See all questions

Is it 120 metres or 400 feet?: It is the same figure in two units: 120 metres is about 394 feet, and the 400 foot reference comes from regulations in other countries. In the European Union the regulatory figure for the open category is 120 metres.
Can I fly higher than 120 metres?: In the open category and in the standard scenarios, only with the exception for artificial obstacles taller than 105 metres, and there it is 15 metres above the obstacle while staying within 50 metres of it. Going beyond that needs an operational authorisation: under that regime the vertical limit is whatever your approved ConOps states.
If I fly on a mountain, can I climb 120 metres from the summit?: Yes, because the measurement is above the closest point of the ground and there the ground is the summit itself. The problem appears as you move away towards the valley, where the ground drops beneath the drone.
Does height over water count?: The water surface acts as the ground for this purpose. Flying out to sea from a cliff, the reference becomes the water level and the available margin changes abruptly.
What if the drone climbs by itself on return to home?: The automatic return function usually climbs to a configured height before coming back, and that climb can take you out of the limit or into a zone. It is worth setting it to the terrain of each flight.

This guide is general information and planning support, not legal advice and not a flight authorisation. Regulations change and every country adds its own conditions. Before taking off, always check the official sources for your jurisdiction and current aeronautical information. The remote pilot in command is solely responsible for the flight.