Guide
How Many Security Cameras Does a Home Need?
A typical single-family home needs 2 to 3 security cameras, a doorbell camera at the front door, an outdoor camera on the driveway or back yard, and optionally an indoor camera on the main living area, while an apartment needs 0 to 1 and a large or corner lot needs 4. This guide gives the count by home type, the 5 placement rules, what each camera adds to the monthly bill, and the 3 places not to put a camera.
How Many Cameras by Home Type?
The camera count depends on the number of approaches to the home: 1 for an apartment door, 2 to 3 for a single-family house with a front door and one yard, and 4 or more for a corner lot or a property with a detached garage.
| Home | Cameras | Placement |
|---|---|---|
| Apartment or condo | 0 to 1 | Indoor camera facing the door, if any |
| Townhouse | 1 to 2 | Doorbell camera; back patio if present |
| Single-family house | 2 to 3 | Doorbell, driveway or back yard, optional indoor |
| Corner lot or detached garage | 4 | Doorbell, 2 outdoor, garage |
| Acreage | 4 to 6 | Add one per approach and outbuilding |
Where Should Security Cameras Go?
Security cameras go in 5 places in priority order: the front door (the most-used entry point according to insurance-industry claims data), the back door or patio, the driveway and garage, ground-floor windows not visible from the street, and the main indoor living area.
The 5 placements in priority order:
- Front door: a doorbell camera with package detection covers the most-used entry.
- Back door or patio: an outdoor camera mounted 8 to 10 feet high facing the door.
- Driveway and garage: an outdoor camera catching vehicles and the side gate.
- Hidden ground-floor windows: one outdoor camera per blind side of the house.
- Indoor living area: an indoor camera facing the interior of the main entry.
What Does Each Camera Add to the Monthly Cost?
Each Vivint camera adds $5 per month for cloud storage on top of the HomeProtect Pro plan at $44.99, so a 2-camera home pays $54.99 per month and a 4-camera home $64.99; DIY brands such as Ring cover unlimited cameras in one $19.99 plan, and SimpliSafe charges $29.99 for its camera plan.
The Vivint cameras page compares the 3 models by price, and the Vivint video storage page explains when the Smart Drive replaces per-camera cloud fees.
Where Should You Not Put a Camera?
Do not put a camera in 3 places: bedrooms and bathrooms (privacy and, for guests or tenants, legal exposure), angles that look into a neighbour's windows (HOA and privacy complaints), and positions facing direct sun or a bright porch light, which washes out night footage.
HOA placement rules are on the Vivint and HOA rules guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
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