How Many CCTV Cameras Does a House Need? A Simple Plan
It is the first thing most owners ask: how many CCTV cameras does a house need? There is no fixed number, but there is a simple way to work it out. Count the entrances and the places a thief would use, then give each one the right camera.
The plan below comes from the camera positions we explain in our installation videos.
How many CCTV cameras does a house need? Start with entrances
Do not count the rooms. Count the ways in. The gate is one entrance, but so are the back door, the balcony door and the terrace door. You can skip cameras at ordinary places, but you should not skip them at the entrances.
A plan by position
- Gate camera: on the centre line, to see a little outside and a little inside. Use a 4K camera and a speaker.
- Main door camera: above the door, not opposite it, so that it sees faces. It also covers the parking and the staircase.
- Back door camera: thieves prefer it because a broken lock is less likely to be heard. Add a siren speaker.
- Left and right side cameras: mounted below slab level, so that windows beneath are covered. Thieves can pull items out through windows, and AC outdoor units can be stolen.
- Balcony camera: above the balcony door, because thieves can climb up from a lorry.
- Rear camera: for peace of mind, to see anyone hiding behind the house.
- Terrace camera: terraces connect to neighbours, and the terrace door is an entrance.
That is up to seven positions for a duplex. A small flat may need only the main door and balcony. A large villa will need more along the boundary. See the video in our villa placement guide.
Which features each camera needs
- Gate and main door: face detection, so visitors are listed, plus a speaker for talking to them.
- Back door, sides, terrace and rear: human detection with siren, to warn off intruders.
- All outdoor cameras: colour night vision and a metal body.
Stanklin, a Taiwan-based AI CCTV brand, makes the cameras we install. They offer AI face detection (the faces of everyone who comes are listed, and you click a face to see that visit), AI human detection, a large external siren speaker with voice warnings, two-way talk from your phone, colour night vision with built-in lights, and audio recording. They have a metal body, a Sony sensor and a 2 year replacement warranty.
If you are still building
Leave a pipe at each position before the roof is cast; see our roof concrete wiring guide.
Key takeaways
- How many CCTV cameras a house needs depends on its entrances, not its rooms; that is the answer to how many CCTV cameras does a house need.
- Plan for the gate, door, back door, sides, balcony, rear and terrace.
- Give each position the AI features that suit it.
Frequently asked questions
Is four cameras enough for a house?
It depends on the entrances. Four may suit a small house, but a duplex may need up to seven positions.
Do I need indoor cameras?
Not always. Entrances matter most; an indoor camera can help to check on family or pets.
Can I add cameras later?
Usually yes, if the recorder has spare channels. Plan the pipes and the recorder size for the future.
Will you plan it for my house?
Yes. Send photos or call us for a visit and a plan.
Talk to Black Cats Group
Black Cats Group has its own installation teams across Tamil Nadu and in Bangalore. Call us on 7557 7557 37 or send your requirement through the contact page, and we will arrange a site visit and a written quote. See the cameras on our CCTV products page.
