Induced drag is an aerodynamic drag force that occurs whenever a moving object redirects the airflow coming at it. It is a consequence of producing lift and is produced by the passage of an aerofoil, such as a wing or tailplane, through the air. Induced drag is created by the wingtip vortices that are formed due to the difference in pressure between the top and bottom of the wing. The lift created by the wing is inclined slightly backward, which contributes to drag, known as induced drag. Induced drag is inversely proportional to the square of the speed, whereas all other drag is directly proportional to the square of the speed. Therefore, induced drag is relatively unimportant at high speeds in the cruise and descent, where it probably represents less than 10% of total drag. In the climb, it is more important, representing at least 20% of total drag. At slow speeds just after takeoff and in the initial climb, it is of maximum importance and may produce as much as 70% of total drag.

Induced drag can be reduced by increasing airspeed, increasing wingspan, or using wingtip devices. For a constant amount of lift, induced drag can be reduced by increasing airspeed. A counter-intuitive effect of this is that, up to the speed-for-minimum-drag, aircraft need less power to fly faster. Induced drag is also reduced when the wingspan is higher or for wings with wingtip devices.

Induced drag is an important factor in aircraft design and operation. For a typical twin-engine wide-body aircraft at cruise speed, induced drag is the second-largest component of total drag, accounting for approximately 37% of total drag. Skin friction drag is the largest component of total drag, at almost 48% . Reducing induced drag can significantly reduce cost and environmental impact.