Home Security Cameras—How Many Do You Need and Where to Place Them

Home security is like health: it’s best to be proactive. Considering how convenient and user-friendly home security systems are today, why wait until you have a bad experience like theft or vandalism to protect your home?

Determining the right system for your needs, though, can be somewhat confusing. Let’s start with the most obvious question: How many security cameras do you need and where should they be placed? In this article, we’ll answer these questions and go over other key points about how to set up your home security system.

A Minimum of 5 Exterior Cameras

The most important thing to know about your home security is that it should be a cohesive system, a collection of pieces that work together. Home security systems are a natural addition to your smart home. For the exterior of your home, you’ll want to place cameras in the following locations:

• Front and back doors
• Both sides of the house
• Entry to the garage.

This basic setup is a great place to start, but consider other places you can locate cameras, too. Take a walk around your property and look for areas that are vulnerable, or where someone with ill intent might see a weakness. Maybe it’s a dark side yard that offers cover to a thief trying to get through the garage window. Also, consider installing a camera that captures the street in front of your house. If you notice a car repeatedly driving down your street slowly after dark, take note, alert the police, and mention it to your neighbors. More visibility equals more security.

Minimum of 2 Interior Cameras

For the interior of your home, at a minimum, you’ll want cameras in:

• The living room
• Any room with valuables or a safe.

Other places to consider adding a camera are in the basement with a view of any windows that an intruder could break to gain entry, the main front and rear entry zones, and the upper hallway, if your home has an upper level. It stands to reason that the more area you can cover with cameras, the better chance you have to capture any suspicious activity. This also will provide more peace of mind when it comes to covering areas that are more vulnerable.

High and Obvious Installation

Every camera should be mounted as high on the wall or ceiling as possible so an intruder would find it difficult to get to. It’s also best to mount cameras in plain sight in the hope that doing so will deter intruders. The strategy here is to make intruding seem risky and get the bad guys to move on. Short of bars on the windows and armed security guards, you cannot prevent all intrusions, but you can make your home appear to be more protected—because it is.

Where Not to Install

Security cameras do not belong everywhere, however. There are some places security cameras simply don’t belong. For example, don