Since 2024, a new drone sold to fly in the open category carries a small label: a logo with a number, from C0 to C4. This marking is not decorative: it decides where you are allowed to fly and which obligations apply to you. Here is what each class means, what it allows, and why you must never confuse it with the CE marking.
Where these classes come from
The European framework distinguishes drones by their risk, which depends mainly on their mass and their safety equipment. Each risk level corresponds to a class, defined by Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/945: from C0 (the lightest, least risky) to C4, plus a few classes reserved for more demanding uses.
The manufacturer has the drone certified, affixes the class label, and includes an EU declaration of conformity. That class then determines, together with your training, the flight subcategory (A1, A2 or A3) you may use.
The trap: CE marking ≠ class marking
This is the most common confusion, and it is worth pausing on.
- The CE marking is the two letters "CE" you see on thousands of products, from toasters to chargers. It certifies that the product meets the applicable European requirements. It says nothing about the drone's class.
- The class marking is the specific logo bearing the number (for example a circled "1" for C1). It alone determines your flight subcategory.
So a drone may carry the CE marking without carrying a class label: this is the case for all older aircraft. In that case it is not "class C-something" — it is without a class marking, and falls under a particular regime (see below).
Bottom line: almost everything has CE; only recent drones certified for the open category carry the C0–C4 class label.
The five open-category classes
C0 — under 250 g
The featherweight class. Maximum take-off mass below 250 grams, limited speed. A C0 flies in subcategory A1, the most permissive, and in principle requires no training and no remote identification. It is the class of most small consumer camera drones.
C1 — under 900 g
A step up. Maximum mass below 900 grams (or an impact energy limited to 80 joules). The C1 must carry direct remote identification and geo-awareness (alerts near restricted zones), a light, and a low-battery warning. It also flies in A1, but without intentional overflight of people, and requires the A1/A3 online training.
C2 — under 4 kg
The heavier drone that can still come close to people. Maximum mass below 4 kilograms. The C2 must have a low-speed mode (limited to 3 m/s), on top of remote identification and geo-awareness. It is the only class giving access to subcategory A2 — but only if you hold the A2 certificate. Without it, it stays confined to A3 conditions.
C3 — under 25 kg
The heavy lifters. Maximum mass below 25 kilograms and a characteristic dimension below 3 metres. The C3 carries remote identification, geo-awareness and lights. It flies in A3, far from residential areas and bystanders.
C4 — under 25 kg, no automation
The class designed for model aircraft (aeromodelling). Same mass limit as the C3 (under 25 kg), but with a twist: the C4 must not have automatic control modes (other than stabilisation and lost-link assistance). In exchange, it does not have to carry remote identification or geo-awareness. It flies in A3.
Summary table
| Class | Maximum mass | Subcategory | Remote identification | Distinctive feature |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| C0 | < 250 g | A1 | Not required | No training in principle |
| C1 | < 900 g | A1 | Required | Or impact energy < 80 J |
| C2 | < 4 kg | A2 (with A2 certificate) or A3 | Required | Low-speed mode mandatory |
| C3 | < 25 kg | A3 | Required | Dimension < 3 m |
| C4 | < 25 kg | A3 | Not required | No automatic modes (aeromodelling) |
Actual access to a subcategory also depends on your training: a C2 only flies in A2 if you hold the A2 certificate.
What about classes C5 and C6?
You may come across the labels C5 and C6. They do exist, but they are not part of the open category: they give access to the specific category, a more tightly framed regime (standard scenarios, with additional requirements). A C5 can even be a C3 fitted with a conversion kit. For recreational use in the open category, only classes C0 to C4 concern you.
What if my drone has no class label?
This is the case for all aircraft placed on the market before 1 January 2024, the date the class marking became the rule. These unmarked drones do not disappear — they benefit from a particular but limited regime:
- under 250 g: flight in A1;
- 250 g and above (up to 25 kg): flight in A3.
So no access to A2, nor to the close-to-people flying reserved for classes C1 and C2. And beware: this regime applies only to aircraft already on the market before that date (or privately built). An unmarked drone sold afterwards cannot fly in the open category. Since the manufacturer declares no certified mass on these aircraft, weigh yours to know which side of 250 g it is on.
Where do I find my drone's class?
The class label is affixed on the aircraft itself (and on its packaging), visibly and indelibly. You will also find it in the EU declaration of conformity supplied with the drone, and usually on the manufacturer's product sheet. In case of doubt, it is the declaration of conformity that counts, not the marketing sheet.
FAQ
Is the CE marking enough to fly in the open category?
No. The CE marking only certifies the product's general conformity. It is the class label (C0 to C4) that governs your flight subcategory. A drone with CE but no class is treated as an aircraft without a class marking.
Which class lets me fly without training?
Class C0: in A1, it requires no training or exam in principle. From the C1 onwards, the A1/A3 online training becomes necessary.
Which is the only class allowing close-to-people flight with a heavy drone?
Class C2, in subcategory A2 — but only if you hold the A2 certificate. Without it, a C2 is confined to A3 conditions.
Do a C0 or a C4 have to broadcast remote identification?
No. Neither class C0 nor class C4 has to carry direct remote identification. It is required, however, for classes C1, C2 and C3.
My drone has no class label — is it banned?
No, if it was placed on the market before 1 January 2024. It then flies in A1 under 250 g, and in A3 above. An unmarked drone sold after that date, however, is not compliant for the open category.
Sources
- EASA — Easy Access Rules for Unmanned Aircraft Systems (consolidated text, annex to Regulation (EU) 2019/945): https://www.easa.europa.eu/en/document-library/easy-access-rules/online-publications/easy-access-rules-unmanned-aircraft-systems
- EASA — Class identification label C0 to C6 (FAQ): https://www.easa.europa.eu/en/the-agency/faqs/drones-class-identification-label-c0-c6
- EASA — Drones without a class identification label in the open category: https://www.easa.europa.eu/en/the-agency/faqs/drones-without-class-identification-label-open-category
- EASA — Class marking mandatory since 1 January 2024: https://www.easa.europa.eu/en/newsroom-and-events/news/reminder-drone-identification-labels-mandatory-beginning-2024
- EUR-Lex — Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/945: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A32019R0945