{
 "version": "2026-10-20",
 "license": "Dimension sheets: CC BY 4.0. Standard and published-size files: CC BY 4.0. Xem Studio's own designs (files_license = Xem Studio Design License): free to use and sell things from, not to redistribute as files — https://xemstudio.com/license/. Other publishers' files: their own license, linked beside them.",
 "slug": "frame-size-prop-size",
 "name": "Frame size vs prop size",
 "kind": "standard",
 "category": "Drone design",
 "group": "Drone frame layouts",
 "year": null,
 "question": "What frame size do I need for 3, 5 or 7 inch props?",
 "tags": [
  "vehicle design",
  "drone frame layouts",
  "rc design",
  "aerodynamics"
 ],
 "aliases": [
  "frame size prop size",
  "drone frame size chart",
  "what size props for 220mm frame",
  "5 inch frame size",
  "wheelbase vs prop",
  "fpv frame sizes",
  "250 class quad props",
  "7 inch frame size",
  "quad frame diagonal"
 ],
 "overall_mm": {
  "length": null,
  "width": null,
  "height": null
 },
 "official_cad": false,
 "xem_status": "free-files",
 "les": false,
 "free_files": 1,
 "url": "https://xemstudio.com/objects/frame-size-prop-size/",
 "sheet_txt": "https://xemstudio.com/objects/frame-size-prop-size/sheet.txt",
 "sheet": {
  "basis": "Design rules and figures from the cited sources; example geometry by Xem Studio",
  "overall_mm": {
   "length": null,
   "width": null,
   "height": null
  },
  "notes": [
   "Frame size is the diagonal motor-to-motor distance; it caps prop diameter because props need tip clearance (Grepow; ArduPilot). Grepow maps 210-250 mm to 5 in props.",
   "ArduPilot suggests about half an inch of clearance tip-to-tip and to the frame; overlapping tips hurt efficiency and cause vibration.",
   "The file is a reference example built by Xem Studio from the numbers above (Reference 5-inch build: 220 mm diagonal within Grepow's 210-250 mm class for 5 in props.). Sizes the sources do not fix are illustrative; scale the example to your own vehicle."
  ],
  "table": {
   "columns": [
    "parameter",
    "value or range",
    "source"
   ],
   "rows": [
    [
     "65-75 mm",
     "whoops",
     "Grepow"
    ],
    [
     "90-120 mm",
     "2 in",
     "Grepow"
    ],
    [
     "120-150 mm",
     "3 in",
     "Grepow"
    ],
    [
     "160-200 mm",
     "4 in",
     "Grepow"
    ],
    [
     "210-250 mm",
     "5 in",
     "Grepow"
    ],
    [
     "250-330 mm",
     "6 in",
     "Grepow"
    ],
    [
     "280-330 mm",
     "7 in",
     "Grepow"
    ],
    [
     "330-380 mm",
     "8 in",
     "Grepow"
    ],
    [
     "355-405 mm",
     "9 in",
     "Grepow"
    ],
    [
     "405-455 mm",
     "10 in",
     "Grepow"
    ],
    [
     "Prop tip clearance",
     "~0.5 in",
     "ArduPilot"
    ],
    [
     "3 in diagonal (other source)",
     "85-100 mm",
     "Unmanned Tech Shop"
    ],
    [
     "5 in (other source)",
     "210-220 mm",
     "Unmanned Tech Shop"
    ]
   ]
  }
 },
 "sheet_text": "Frame size vs prop size — dimension sheet\nSource: Xem Studio, https://xemstudio.com/objects/frame-size-prop-size/  (sheet CC BY 4.0; files Xem Studio Design License, https://xemstudio.com/license/)\nBasis: Design rules and figures from the cited sources; example geometry by Xem Studio\nCatalog version: 2026-10-20\n\nSizes: see table below\n- Frame size is the diagonal motor-to-motor distance; it caps prop diameter because props need tip clearance (Grepow; ArduPilot). Grepow maps 210-250 mm to 5 in props.\n- ArduPilot suggests about half an inch of clearance tip-to-tip and to the frame; overlapping tips hurt efficiency and cause vibration.\n- The file is a reference example built by Xem Studio from the numbers above (Reference 5-inch build: 220 mm diagonal within Grepow's 210-250 mm class for 5 in props.). Sizes the sources do not fix are illustrative; scale the example to your own vehicle.\n\nparameter  value or range  source\n65-75 mm  whoops  Grepow\n90-120 mm  2 in  Grepow\n120-150 mm  3 in  Grepow\n160-200 mm  4 in  Grepow\n210-250 mm  5 in  Grepow\n250-330 mm  6 in  Grepow\n280-330 mm  7 in  Grepow\n330-380 mm  8 in  Grepow\n355-405 mm  9 in  Grepow\n405-455 mm  10 in  Grepow\nProp tip clearance  ~0.5 in  ArduPilot\n3 in diagonal (other source)  85-100 mm  Unmanned Tech Shop\n5 in (other source)  210-220 mm  Unmanned Tech Shop\n\nFiles elsewhere (not hosted by Xem Studio; license as stated by the publisher):\n- Grepow: What size FPV drone should I get? — web — Publisher's page; dimensions are facts — https://grepow.com/blog/what-size-fpv-drone-should-i-get.html\n- ArduPilot: Archived: Advanced MultiCopter Design — web — Publisher's page; dimensions are facts — https://ardupilot.org/copter/docs/advanced-multicopter-design.html\n- Unmanned Tech Shop: FPV drone propeller size guide: how to choose props — web — Publisher's page; dimensions are facts — https://www.unmannedtechshop.co.uk/de/blogs/knowledge-base/fpv-drone-propeller-size-guide-how-to-choose\n\nFree files (Xem Studio Design License, Xem Studio; STEP + STL, 1 parts): https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/frame-size-prop-size/index.json\nAPI: https://xemstudio.com/api/geometry?object=frame-size-prop-size\n",
 "sources": [
  {
   "publisher": "Grepow",
   "title": "What size FPV drone should I get?",
   "url": "https://grepow.com/blog/what-size-fpv-drone-should-i-get.html",
   "formats": [
    "web"
   ],
   "license": "Publisher's page; dimensions are facts",
   "license_verified": true,
   "hosted": false
  },
  {
   "publisher": "ArduPilot",
   "title": "Archived: Advanced MultiCopter Design",
   "url": "https://ardupilot.org/copter/docs/advanced-multicopter-design.html",
   "formats": [
    "web"
   ],
   "license": "Publisher's page; dimensions are facts",
   "license_verified": true,
   "hosted": false
  },
  {
   "publisher": "Unmanned Tech Shop",
   "title": "FPV drone propeller size guide: how to choose props",
   "url": "https://www.unmannedtechshop.co.uk/de/blogs/knowledge-base/fpv-drone-propeller-size-guide-how-to-choose",
   "formats": [
    "web"
   ],
   "license": "Publisher's page; dimensions are facts",
   "license_verified": true,
   "hosted": false
  }
 ],
 "xem": {
  "status": "free-files",
  "sheet_free": true,
  "mesh_price_usd": null,
  "step_price_usd": null,
  "tolerance_mm": null
 },
 "related": [
  "true-x-frame",
  "stretched-x-frame",
  "squashed-x-frame",
  "hybrid-x-frame",
  "deadcat-frame",
  "h-frame"
 ],
 "fits": [],
 "dimensions": "exact (nominal, no printing tolerance)",
 "dimension_rule": "All geometry on Xem Studio is exact (nominal, true size) with no printing tolerance. Where a part meets another part, the object lists its mating features (feature, exact size, what it mates with, fit class: press, slide, run, socket, clamp or designed). Apply your process's allowance to those features only; 'designed' gaps are part of the design and stay as drawn.",
 "mating": [],
 "faq": [
  {
   "q": "What is 'wheelbase'?",
   "a": "Diagonal motor-to-motor distance (Grepow)."
  }
 ],
 "files_license": {
  "name": "Xem Studio Design License",
  "holder": "Xem Studio",
  "url": "https://xemstudio.com/license/",
  "note": "Xem Studio's own design: free to use, print, modify and sell things made from it; not to be republished or redistributed as files."
 },
 "offers": [
  {
   "file": "frame-size-prop-size-layout",
   "formats": [
    "step",
    "stl"
   ],
   "price_usd": 0,
   "license": "Xem Studio Design License",
   "step": "https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/frame-size-prop-size/frame-size-prop-size-layout.step",
   "stl": "https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/frame-size-prop-size/frame-size-prop-size-layout.stl",
   "note": "true x frame layout: 220 mm motor-to-motor diagonal, 5 in props (discs show the swept area; arms and plate illustrative)"
  }
 ],
 "markdown": "https://xemstudio.com/objects/frame-size-prop-size/index.md"
}