Quick Answer
Betaflight rates control how your drone responds to stick movement. They set the relationship between how far you push the joystick and how fast the drone rotates. Adjusting rates lets you go from gentle, predictable handling to aggressive, snappy response suited to freestyle or racing.
What Are Betaflight Rates
Every time you move a stick on your radio controller, Betaflight translates that input into a rotation speed. The rates configuration determines the shape of that translation. Low stick input produces slow, steady rotation, while full stick sends the drone into a fast flip or roll. Getting rates right is one of the biggest factors in how your quad feels to fly.
Three settings define your rates: RC Rate, Expo, and Super Rate. Each shapes a different part of the response curve.
Understanding the Three Rate Parameters
RC Rate sets the maximum rotation speed at full stick deflection. A higher value means faster rolls and flips. Most pilots start around 0.5 to 0.7.
Expo adjusts sensitivity around the stick centre. Positive expo makes the middle less sensitive, giving finer control for small corrections while keeping full-stick speed the same. Most freestyle pilots use 0.2 to 0.5. If the drone feels twitchy during hover, add more expo.
Super Rate increases rotation speed at the outer portion of stick travel, making rolls and flips feel snappier past about 70 percent deflection. Values between 0.5 and 0.8 are common for freestyle.
Rate Types in Betaflight
Betaflight supports three rate formats: Betaflight, Raceflight, and KISS. They all do the same thing but use different mathematical curves. The Betaflight format is the default and most common. If you are copying rates from another pilot, make sure you know which format they use, because the same numbers produce different results across formats.
You can experiment with rate types by connecting an F405 flight controller stack to your computer. Betaflight Configurator shows a live graph of your rate curve so you can see exactly how stick input maps to rotation speed.
Finding Your Ideal Rates
There is no single correct rate setting. Start with RC Rate at 0.6, Expo at 0.3, and Super Rate at 0.6. Fly a few packs and adjust from there. If rolls are too slow, raise RC Rate. If hovering feels twitchy, increase Expo. If flips lack snap, raise Super Rate. Change one parameter at a time.
Practising in an FPV simulator is the fastest way to dial in rates without risking a crash.
Common Rate Profiles
Here are some starting points that work well for different flying styles:
| Style | RC Rate | Expo | Super Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beginner | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.4 |
| Cinematic | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.3 |
| Freestyle | 0.7 | 0.3 | 0.7 |
| Racing | 0.8 | 0.2 | 0.6 |
These are starting points only. The best setting is whatever feels natural to your thumbs. Browse our flight controllers collection for hardware that supports full rate configuration.
Setting Up Rates in Betaflight Configurator
Connect your flight controller to your computer and open Betaflight Configurator. Go to the Rates tab and adjust the sliders for Roll, Pitch, and Yaw while watching the live graph. The graph shows rotation speed in degrees per second against stick position.
Most pilots set Roll and Pitch to identical values for symmetrical handling, with Yaw slightly lower. Save, test fly, and iterate.
FAQ
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: Should I use the same rates for roll and pitch?
A: Most pilots do, because matching roll and pitch rates makes the drone feel symmetrical in all orientations. Some racers prefer slightly lower pitch rates to avoid over-rotating on loops. It is worth trying matched rates first and splitting them later if something feels off.
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 based on your own comfort. Make sure you are using the same rate format (Betaflight, Raceflight, or KISS) before copying numbers.
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. After an update, do a test flight and re-tune if needed. Our Betaflight setup guide covers post-update configuration steps.