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): How fast the drone rotates with small stick movements near the centre. A value of 70 means the drone rotates at 70 degrees per second with a small stick input. Higher values make the drone feel more responsive around centre.
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 curve's transition point between centre sensitivity and max rate without affecting either value. Higher expo makes the curve more progressive, keeping things calm in the middle and ramping up sharply near full stick. Most pilots use 0.30 to 0.50.
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 rotation speed multiplier. A higher value means faster rolls and flips at full stick. Most pilots started around 0.5 to 0.7.
Expo reduces sensitivity around stick centre. Positive expo makes the middle less sensitive for finer control while keeping full-stick speed the same. Values of 0.2 to 0.5 were common.
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 were typical for freestyle.
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 between rate types in the Betaflight Configurator Rates tab. The Configurator shows a live graph so you can see exactly how stick input maps to rotation speed. Connect an F405 flight controller stack to experiment.
Starting Rate Profiles
Here are starting points for both rate systems. These are baselines, not prescriptions. The right setting is whatever feels natural to your thumbs after a few packs.
| Style | Actual: Centre | Actual: Max Rate | Actual: Expo | Legacy: RC Rate | Legacy: Expo | Legacy: Super Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beginner | 50 | 400 | 0.40 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.4 |
| Cinematic | 60 | 550 | 0.55 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.3 |
| Freestyle | 70 | 850 | 0.35 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 0.7 |
| Racing | 80 | 650 | 0.20 | 0.8 | 0.2 | 0.6 |
The Betaflight defaults for Actual rates are Centre 70, Max Rate 670, Expo 0.50. These are sensible starting points for most pilots moving from another rate system.
Practising in an FPV simulator is the fastest way to dial in rates without risking a crash.
Setting Up Rates in Betaflight Configurator
Connect your flight controller to your computer and open Betaflight Configurator. Go to the Rates tab. Select your rate type at the top (Actual is recommended). 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. Browse our flight controllers collection for hardware that supports full rate configuration.
FAQ
Q: What are the default Betaflight rates?
A: Since Betaflight 4.3, the defaults use Actual rates: Centre Sensitivity 70 deg/s, Max Rate 670 deg/s, and Expo 0.50. If you are on an older firmware using legacy Betaflight rates, the defaults are RC Rate 1.0, Super Rate 0.70, and Expo 0.00. These produce a maximum roll rate of approximately 670 deg/s.
Q: What is Centre Sensitivity in Betaflight Actual rates?
A: Centre Sensitivity defines how fast the drone rotates with small stick movements near the centre, measured in degrees per second. A value of 70 means the drone rotates at 70 deg/s with a small stick deflection. Higher values make the drone feel more responsive around centre. It is completely independent of Max Rate, unlike the legacy RC Rate which affected both centre and maximum speed simultaneously.
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.