Betaflight Rates Explained: How to Configure RC Stick Response
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Quick Answer
Betaflight rates control how fast your drone rotates based on stick position. Since Betaflight 4.3, the default rate type is Actual Rates by ctzsnooze, which lets you set centre sensitivity and maximum rotation speed directly in degrees per second. Older Betaflight rates (RC Rate, Super Rate, Expo) still work but are harder to reason about because changing one value shifts everything else.
The Two Rate Systems You Need to Know
Modern Betaflight supports five rate types, but two matter for most pilots: Betaflight rates (the legacy system) and Actual rates (the default since 4.3). Both produce the same end result: a curve mapping stick position to rotation speed in degrees per second. The difference is how you configure them.
If you open Betaflight Configurator today and go to the Rates tab, you will see Actual rates sliders. If you are following an older guide or copying rates from a pilot still on Betaflight 4.2 or earlier, you will encounter the legacy RC Rate, Super Rate, and Expo values. Understanding both is essential because most rate-sharing in the community still uses both formats interchangeably.
Actual Rates (Default Since 4.3) — What You See in Configurator
Actual rates, created by ctzsnooze, replaced the old Betaflight rates as the default in version 4.3. They solve the main problem with the old system: changing one value no longer shifts the others. Each parameter is independent and expressed in real units you can understand.
Three settings define Actual rates:
Centre Sensitivity (deg/s): The slope of the response curve at stick centre, expressed in degrees per second. It does not mean that every small input commands 70deg/s; it describes how quickly the commanded rate rises as the stick leaves centre. Raise it when small corrections feel dull, and lower it when hovering or lining up a gap feels nervous.
Max Rate (deg/s): The maximum rotation speed at full stick deflection. Entering 670 means the drone attempts to rotate at 670 degrees per second at full stick. This is your hard cap on flip and roll speed.
Expo: Shifts the transition between centre sensitivity and max rate without changing either endpoint. More expo holds the centre behaviour farther through the stick travel, then makes the climb towards full-stick rate steeper. Treat it as curve shape, not as a second centre-sensitivity control.
Legacy Betaflight Rates (RC Rate, Super Rate, Expo)
The original Betaflight rate system uses three interdependent values. Changing RC Rate affects both centre feel and max speed simultaneously, which is why ctzsnooze designed Actual rates to replace it.
RC Rate sets the base response and also contributes to the full-stick rotation speed. Raising it therefore changes more than one part of the curve.
Expo reduces sensitivity around stick centre. Positive expo makes the middle less sensitive for finer control while keeping full-stick speed the same.
Super Rate bends the outer portion of stick travel upwards. It raises full-stick speed and changes the curve leading into it, which is why copying only one legacy value never reproduces another pilot's feel.
Actual Rates vs Betaflight Rates: Which Should You Use
We recommend Actual rates for anyone setting up rates for the first time. The ability to type a max rotation speed directly in deg/s makes tuning far more intuitive. If your target is 800 deg/s, you enter 800. With legacy Betaflight rates, you would have to calculate what RC Rate and Super Rate combination produces that speed.
| Feature | Actual Rates (4.3+) | Betaflight Rates (Legacy) |
|---|---|---|
| Default in Betaflight | Yes (since 4.3) | No (was default pre-4.3) |
| Parameters | Centre, Max Rate, Expo | RC Rate, Super Rate, Expo |
| Max speed set directly | Yes (deg/s) | No (interdependent) |
| Parameter independence | Each is independent | Changing one affects others |
| Good for beginners | Yes, intuitive units | Harder to predict |
You can switch rate types under PID Tuning → Rateprofile Settings. The Configurator's live graph shows how stick input maps to commanded rotation speed. Connect an F405 flight controller stack to experiment.
Start With the Verified Default, Then Change One Thing
For a new setup, we would keep Betaflight's Actual Rates defaults first: Centre Sensitivity 70deg/s, Max Rate 670deg/s and Expo 0.00 on roll, pitch and yaw. Betaflight introduced that deliberately soft centre in 4.3 while retaining the older default's 670deg/s maximum. This clean baseline is more useful than copying a fashionable freestyle preset before you know which part of the curve bothers you.
| What you feel | Change first | What to watch |
|---|---|---|
| Twitchy during small corrections | Lower Centre Sensitivity | Do not hide an oversized RC deadband with rates |
| Full-stick flips are too slow or too fast | Change Max Rate | Judge altitude loss and recovery, not appearance alone |
| Centre feels right but mid-stick feels abrupt | Raise Expo gradually | Too much expo bunches the response near full stick |
| Only one axis feels wrong | Edit that axis only | Roll, pitch and yaw do not have to match |
Create a second rate profile before experimenting rather than overwriting the only known-good setup. Betaflight provides separate rate-profile slots, and a profile stores the rate type, axis values and throttle-related rate settings. Compare one deliberate change at a time in an FPV simulator, then confirm it in open air.
Setting Up Rates in Betaflight Configurator
Connect your flight controller, open Betaflight Configurator and use PID Tuning → Rateprofile Settings. Choose a spare rate profile, select Actual as the rate type, and adjust Roll, Pitch and Yaw while watching the live graph. The graph maps stick position to commanded rotation speed in degrees per second.
Save before disconnecting, test in a clear area, and change only the value linked to the behaviour you observed. Roll, pitch and yaw may share values, but that is not a requirement. Browse our flight controllers collection for compatible hardware.
FAQ
Q: What are the default Betaflight rates?
A: Since Betaflight 4.3, a fresh configuration defaults to Actual Rates with Centre Sensitivity 70deg/s, Max Rate 670deg/s and Expo 0.00 on all three axes. The older Betaflight Rates defaults were RC Rate 1.0, Super Rate 0.70 and Expo 0.00, also producing approximately 670deg/s at full stick.
Q: What is Centre Sensitivity in Betaflight Actual rates?
A: Centre Sensitivity sets the slope of the rate curve at stick centre, in degrees per second. Higher values make small corrections produce a faster response. It is independent of Max Rate, unlike legacy RC Rate, but a setting of 70 does not mean every small stick deflection commands exactly 70deg/s.
Q: What is the difference between rates and PID tuning?
A: Rates control the input side: how stick movement translates to desired rotation speed. PID tuning controls the output side: how the flight controller achieves that rotation by adjusting motor power. Think of rates as what you want the drone to do, and PIDs as how it executes that command. For a full guide on the output side, see our PID tuning article.
Q: Can I copy rates from another pilot?
A: You can, but what feels right for someone else may not suit you. Different radio controllers, gimbal tensions, and thumb versus pinching grip all affect how rates feel. Use another pilot's rates as a starting point, then adjust. Make sure you are using the same rate type (Actual, Betaflight, Raceflight, or KISS) before copying numbers. The same values produce very different results across formats.
Q: How do I convert between Betaflight rates and Actual rates?
A: The easiest method is to open the Betaflight Configurator Rates tab and switch the rate type dropdown. The Configurator recalculates the graph but does not auto-convert the numbers. For accurate conversion, use the metamarc.com rate converter or the Desmos graph by ctzsnooze, both linked in the Betaflight wiki. Match the max rotation speed (deg/s) first, then fine-tune centre sensitivity.
Q: Why does my drone feel different after updating Betaflight?
A: Major Betaflight updates sometimes change default filter or PID behaviour, which can alter how rates feel in practice. The switch from Betaflight rates to Actual rates as the default in 4.3 is the most significant example. After an update, do a test flight and re-tune if needed. Our Betaflight setup guide covers post-update configuration steps.