Example plan · Townhouse · data checked 2026-09-16
How many security cameras do I need for every side of a townhouse without drilling?
Plan on 2 outdoor cameras plus a video doorbell for every side of a typical townhouse without drilling. This plan costs $215 up front and nothing a month, $215 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
2
+ video doorbell
Up front
$215
Buy now: $215
Monthly
$0
records locally
3-year total
$215
hardware + 36 months
| Area | Day | Night | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Front door Required | 99% | lit | Covered |
| Street parking Nice to have | 100% | lit | Covered |
| Back patio Required · unlit at night | 97% | 97% | Covered |
| Rear parking pad 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 | Front door frame | Rechargeable battery | 1 | $59.99 | Tapo store ↗ |
| 2 | TP-Link Tapo C460 | Back wall, left | Rechargeable battery | 1 | $84.99 | Tapo store ↗ |
| 3 | TP-Link Tapo C425 KIT | Front wall, left | Solar + battery | 1 | $69.99 | Tapo store ↗ |
| Hardware total | $214.97 | |||||
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 C460: cloud video history, cloud backup
- TP-Link Tapo C425 KIT: cloud video history, cloud backup
Wi-Fi check
One router should reach everything, but 3 spots are borderline. Test the signal there with your phone first.
- Front door frame -67 dBmfair
- Back wall, left -67 dBmfair
- Front wall, left -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 · Front door frame Rechargeable battery
Use the quick-release mount so the camera is easy to take down and charge.
Charging: About every 9 weeks at ~30 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 C460 · Back wall, left Rechargeable battery
Use the quick-release mount so the camera is easy to take down and charge.
Charging: About every 29 weeks at ~10 events/day (estimate; maker: 200 days at 270 s/day).
• Wi-Fi battery cameras can be knocked offline by a jammer. If you can, wire the camera at this key spot.
• Hold it in place with tape and check the live view before you drill.
Planning reach: ~60 ft by day, ~49 ft at night, 113° wide.
3TP-Link Tapo C425 KIT · Front wall, left Solar + battery
Aim the panel toward the south, clear of shade.
Charging: Should stay charged most of the year in direct sun (estimate).
• Wi-Fi battery cameras can be knocked offline by a jammer. If you can, wire the camera at this key spot.
• 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
- We loosened a setting to make it work: Allowed drilling and existing outlets or light fixtures.
- Most microSD cameras ship without a card. Budget for a high-endurance card; it isn't priced here.
Assumptions we had to make (3)
- night-vision range not published; assumed 30 ft
- sensor width taken as 3840 px from the "4K" label
- sensor width taken as 2304 px from the "2K" label
The settings behind this plan
- Areas
- Front door (required), Street parking, Back patio (required), Rear parking pad
- Monthly fee
- Allowed
- Wiring
- Existing outlets, lights and doorbell wires only
- Budget
- No limit
- Smart home
- Any
- Climate
- Mild winters
Similar plans
- Security cameras for every side of a townhouse, with no monthly fee $170
- Security cameras for every side of a townhouse, for under $500 $360
- Security cameras for every side of a townhouse, without running new wires $215
- Security cameras for the front door and street parking of a townhouse, with no monthly fee $125
- Security cameras for every side of a house with an attached garage, with no monthly fee $250
- Security cameras for every side of a house with an attached garage, for under $500 $825
- Security cameras for every side of a house with an attached garage, for under $1,000 $895
- Security cameras for every side of a house with an attached garage, without running new wires $720