Remote Control Helicopters at Walmart: What You’ll Find and How to Choose
Walmart and similar big-box stores mostly sell toy-grade RC helicopters: small and mid-size coaxial helicopters with gyros, character and military-styled models, and occasionally twin-rotor “Chinook”-style toys, plus some hobby-grade brands online through marketplace sellers. They’re good for kids and casual indoor flying. What matters most when choosing is stabilisation, battery life, spare parts and who the seller is, since marketplace listings vary widely.
By Kyle HilsonUpdated: October 20263 min read
What you’ll find
| Type | Best for | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Small coaxial toys | Kids, indoor play | Easy, short flights |
| Large coaxial helicopters | Bigger rooms, calm outdoors | More stable, easier to see |
| Military-styled and Chinook toys | Fans of scale looks | Often coaxial underneath |
| Hobby-grade helis (marketplace) | Learning real control | Check seller and parts |
Typical range; stock varies by store and season.
What to check before buying
- Gyro stabilisation (essential for easy flying).
- Altitude hold, which makes hovering much easier.
- Battery type, flight time and whether spares are sold.
- Brand and model name, so you can find parts and manuals.
- Sold by Walmart directly or by a third-party seller, and the return policy.
- Age rating and safety features like blade guards.
Chinook-style toys
Toy “Chinook” helicopters copy the twin-rotor CH-47 look, and are popular for that reason. Many fly like coaxial helicopters underneath the body, while some use two rotors and gyro mixing. Scale twin-rotor helicopters for hobbyists are more complex; see RC Chinook helicopter.
Flying tips for toy helicopters
- Charge fully and fly indoors in a large room with no fans.
- Place the helicopter on a flat surface and let the gyro initialise.
- Raise throttle smoothly to a low hover.
- Use trim to stop rotation.
- Practise small movements before flying across the room.
- Land slowly to avoid breaking the skids or blades.
Bigger toy helicopters
Large coaxial helicopters such as the Double Horse 9101 fly steadier and are easier to see, and can go outside on calm days. They need more space and their blades carry more energy, so supervise children closely.
When to step up
If a toy helicopter becomes too easy, a stabilised single-rotor hobby helicopter teaches real cyclic control and can be repaired with standard parts. Buying from a hobby shop or brand store gives better support than marketplace sellers.
Safety
Even small blades can hurt eyes. Fly away from faces and pets, use blade guards where available, and charge batteries on a hard surface under supervision.
Battery life
Toy helicopters usually fly for 5–10 minutes and take longer to charge. Models with removable batteries let you buy spares and fly longer. Let a warm battery cool before charging, and stop flying when the helicopter starts to sink, since running batteries completely flat shortens their life.
Choosing by age
For young children, choose small, slow coaxial helicopters with soft blades or guards and simple remotes, and fly together with them. Older children can handle larger coaxial helicopters with more controls. Teenagers and adults who want a real challenge should look at stabilised hobby-grade helicopters, which fly more like real helicopters and can be repaired with standard parts. Matching the helicopter to the pilot avoids frustration and broken parts.
Returns
Test a new helicopter soon after purchase so any fault can be returned within the store’s or seller’s return window.
FAQ
Are Walmart RC helicopters good?
Many are fine toys; check stabilisation, battery and seller.
What’s the easiest RC helicopter for kids?
A coaxial helicopter with gyro and altitude hold.
Can toy helicopters fly outside?
Only in calm weather; wind blows them away.
Are spare parts available?
For some models; check before buying.
More on this topic: the complete RC Helicopters guide covers the basics behind this article.
About 20 years in RC. Mostly boats in the NAVIGA Mini Eco Expert class, with many self-made parts; also a King Motor Baja 5B, a home-built electric plane, home-built nitro planes he has flown, and an RC helicopter. More about SwellRC
