# Frame size vs prop size

> What frame size do I need for 3, 5 or 7 inch props?

- Category: Drone design › Drone frame layouts
- Kind: Standard part
- Basis: Design rules and figures from the cited sources; example geometry by Xem Studio
- Page: https://xemstudio.com/objects/frame-size-prop-size/ · JSON: https://xemstudio.com/api/geometry?object=frame-size-prop-size · Plain text: https://xemstudio.com/objects/frame-size-prop-size/sheet.txt
- License: dimension sheet CC BY 4.0 (Xem Studio); files Xem Studio Design License (free to use and sell from, not to redistribute as files: https://xemstudio.com/license/)
- Use in every chat: add https://xemstudio.com/mcp as a connector (https://xemstudio.com/use-with-ai/)

**Exact dimensions.** True size, with no printing tolerance added.

## 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.

## Sizes

| parameter | value or range | source |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |

## Where the files are

- Grepow: [What size FPV drone should I get?](https://grepow.com/blog/what-size-fpv-drone-should-i-get.html) — web — Publisher's page; dimensions are facts
- ArduPilot: [Archived: Advanced MultiCopter Design](https://ardupilot.org/copter/docs/advanced-multicopter-design.html) — web — Publisher's page; dimensions are facts
- Unmanned Tech Shop: [FPV drone propeller size guide: how to choose props](https://www.unmannedtechshop.co.uk/de/blogs/knowledge-base/fpv-drone-propeller-size-guide-how-to-choose) — web — Publisher's page; dimensions are facts

## Free STEP/STL (1 parts, Xem Studio Design License, Xem Studio)

Index: https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/frame-size-prop-size/index.json · license: https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/frame-size-prop-size/LICENSE.md

- frame-size-prop-size-layout: [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) — true x frame layout: 220 mm motor-to-motor diagonal, 5 in props (discs show the swept area; arms and plate illustrative)

## Questions

**What is 'wheelbase'?**

Diagonal motor-to-motor distance (Grepow).

## Fits with

- [True X quad frame](https://xemstudio.com/objects/true-x-frame/)
- [Stretched X frame](https://xemstudio.com/objects/stretched-x-frame/)
- [Squashed (wide) X frame](https://xemstudio.com/objects/squashed-x-frame/)
- [Hybrid X frame](https://xemstudio.com/objects/hybrid-x-frame/)
- [Deadcat frame](https://xemstudio.com/objects/deadcat-frame/)
- [H frame](https://xemstudio.com/objects/h-frame/)