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Multirotor Thrust Target per Motor

Estimate a static thrust target per motor from total mass, motor count and a chosen thrust-to-weight ratio.

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Calculator inputs

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How to use this calculator

  1. Enter the known values in the units shown. Results update as you type.
  2. Where results are editable, change one to solve backwards. Lock a value to hold it fixed.
  3. Use the worked example to check the method. Reset restores the starting fields.

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Inputs and results stay in this browser tab. Bookify does not upload or store the values you enter.

Formula and method

A 1,000 g craft at a thrust-to-weight ratio of 2 needs a total static thrust target equivalent to 2,000 gram-force, or 500 gram-force for each of four motors.

Total mass = airframe + battery + equipment; total thrust equivalent = mass × thrust-to-weight ratio; per motor = total / motor count

Worked example

Enter these known values and leave the other values blank.

Airframe mass without battery or equipment
600 g
Battery mass
300 g
Additional equipment mass
100 g
Target thrust-to-weight ratio
2 :1
Number of motors
4
Total flying mass
1000 g
Total thrust target (mass-equivalent units)
2000 g
Per-motor thrust target (mass-equivalent units)
500 g

Assumptions and limitations

  • The source ratio is thrust-to-weight, despite its original power-to-weight label. It is dimensionless and is not watts per kilogram.
  • The source uses mass selectors for thrust equivalents: a displayed gram corresponds numerically to gram-force, kilogram to kilogram-force, and pound to pound-force. These are static thrust targets, not measured motor outputs.
  • Thrust is divided equally among a positive whole number of motors. Motor failure, propeller interaction, maneuvering, altitude, air density, voltage sag and thermal limits are not modeled.
  • Select motors and propellers using tested thrust data at the intended voltage and operating conditions. This arithmetic alone does not validate a complete aircraft design.

Common questions

Does a ratio of two mean the aircraft can lift twice its mass as extra payload?

No. The total thrust target includes supporting the aircraft itself. Dynamic performance and payload limits also depend on factors outside this equal-thrust model.

References

The calculation equations, inverse formulas, units, and input rules were imported from this source. Bookify provides the interface and equation solver.

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