Example plan · Condo or apartment · data checked 2026-09-16

How many security cameras do I need for the front door and balcony of a condo or apartment without drilling?

Plan on 1 outdoor camera plus a video doorbell for the front door and balcony of a typical condo or apartment without drilling. This plan costs $130 up front and nothing a month, $130 over 3 years. Every required area is covered day and night. Your layout will differ, so start from this plan and adjust it.

We picked the easiest install: no new wiring, as few devices and apps as possible. This is a template result, not a site survey: your doors, trees and outlets move the numbers. Open it in the planner to match your own home.

Cameras

+ video doorbell

Up front

$130

Buy now: $60

Monthly

records locally

3-year total

$130

hardware + 36 months

Daytime view Key spot seen ×Key spot missed Router (R) / mesh node (M) Planning estimate only: check the live view before you drill.

Area	Day	Night	Status
Front door (hallway) Required	76%	lit	Covered
Balcony Nice to have · unlit at night	100%	100%	Covered

Shopping list

Phase 1 covers your required areas; phase 2 can wait.

#	Device	Where	Power	Phase	Price
1	TP-Link Tapo D210 Battery Doorbell	Door frame (no-drill bracket)	Rechargeable battery	1	$59.99	Tapo store ↗
2	TP-Link Tapo C425 KIT	Balcony railing clamp	Solar + battery	2	$69.99	Tapo store ↗
Hardware total					$129.98

Monthly fees

None. Every device in this plan records locally without a subscription.

What you give up by skipping the plan

TP-Link Tapo D210 Battery Doorbell: cloud video history, cloud backup
TP-Link Tapo C425 KIT: cloud video history, cloud backup

Wi-Fi check

One router should reach everything, but 1 spot is borderline. Test the signal there with your phone first.

Door frame (no-drill bracket) -63 dBmgood
Balcony railing clamp -68 dBmfair

Most cameras only connect on 2.4 GHz. If your mesh merges bands into one network, turn on a separate 2.4 GHz network for them.

Power and install, spot by spot

1TP-Link Tapo D210 Battery Doorbell · Door frame (no-drill bracket) Rechargeable battery

Use the quick-release mount so the camera is easy to take down and charge.

Charging: About every 17 weeks at ~15 events/day (estimate; maker: 180 days, usage not stated (we assume 10 events/day)).

• Wi-Fi battery cameras can be knocked offline by a jammer. If you can, wire the camera at this key spot.

Planning reach: ~24 ft by day, ~24 ft at night, 135° wide.

2TP-Link Tapo C425 KIT · Balcony railing clamp Solar + battery

Aim the panel toward the south, clear of shade.

Charging: Should stay charged most of the year in direct sun (estimate).

• Hold it in place with tape and check the live view before you drill.

Planning reach: ~32 ft by day, ~32 ft at night, 122° wide.

What to know about this plan

Most microSD cameras ship without a card. Budget for a high-endurance card; it isn't priced here.

Assumptions we had to make (2)

night-vision range not published; assumed 30 ft
sensor width taken as 2304 px from the "2K" label

Start from this plan and edit it Move cameras, mark what you already own, change the budget: everything recalculates.

The settings behind this plan

Areas: Front door (hallway) (required), Balcony
Monthly fee: Allowed
Wiring: No drilling (renter)
Budget: No limit
Smart home: Any
Climate: Mild winters