Answers · data checked 2026-09-15
How many security cameras do I need?
Most detached houses with a garage need 3 to 6 outdoor cameras plus a video doorbell: one for the driveway, and one or two for the back and sides. Add a side gate and it's 5 to 7. A townhouse needs 2 plus a doorbell, and a condo usually just a doorbell and maybe one balcony camera.
Camera counts by home type
These are real planner runs on our four layouts with every area switched on. Front door and driveway are required; the rest are nice to have.
| Layout | Lowest 3-year cost | Easiest install | Most coverage |
|---|---|---|---|
| House with attached garage | 3 cams + bell$250 / 3 yrs | 5 cams + bell$720 / 3 yrs | 6 cams + bell$895 / 3 yrs |
| House with garage and side gate | 5 cams + bell$355 / 3 yrs | 6 cams + bell$1,185 / 3 yrs | 7 cams + bell$980 / 3 yrs |
| Townhouse | 2 cams + bell$170 / 3 yrs | 2 cams + bell$215 / 3 yrs | 2 cams + bell$360 / 3 yrs |
| Condo or apartment | 1 cam + bell$100 / 3 yrs | 1 cam + bell$130 / 3 yrs | 1 cam + bell$125 / 3 yrs |
Cover the ways in first
- Front door. Where packages go and where most people knock. A video doorbell covers it best.
- Driveway and garage door. Cars get broken into here, and it's usually the darkest spot at night.
- Back door or patio. The most common way into a house that isn't the front door.
- Side gate. If there is one, it's the route into the backyard.
Everything else, like the far fence line or a blank side yard, is phase 2. Our plans split the shopping list that way, so you can buy phase 1 now.
When you need more cameras
- Long driveways. A typical 2K battery camera with a 140° lens only shows enough detail to recognize someone out to about 23 ft. A 4K camera with a 110° lens reaches about 67 ft. Past that range you need a second camera or a narrower, sharper one.
- Dark yards. Night range is often shorter than daytime range. Unlit areas may need a floodlight camera or an extra light.
- A detached garage or shed. It's another building with its own door, and often too far for home Wi-Fi.
- Corner lots. Two street sides mean two approaches to watch.
Example plans by budget and rules
- Security cameras for every side of a house with an attached garage, with no monthly fee: 3 cameras, $250 over 3 years
- Security cameras for every side of a house with an attached garage, for under $500: 3 cameras, $825 over 3 years
- Security cameras for every side of a house with an attached garage, for under $1,000: 6 cameras, $895 over 3 years
- Security cameras for every side of a house with an attached garage, without running new wires: 5 cameras, $720 over 3 years
- Security cameras for every side of a house with an attached garage, with wired cameras: 6 cameras, $895 over 3 years
- Security cameras for the front door and driveway of a house with an attached garage, with no monthly fee: 1 cameras, $125 over 3 years
- Security cameras for the front door and driveway of a house with an attached garage, for under $500: 2 cameras, $390 over 3 years
- Security cameras for the front door and driveway of a house with an attached garage, without running new wires: 2 cameras, $220 over 3 years
- Security cameras for the backyard and patio of a house with an attached garage, with no monthly fee: 1 cameras, $145 over 3 years
- Security cameras for the backyard and patio of a house with an attached garage, without running new wires: 2 cameras, $220 over 3 years
Related questions
Is one outdoor camera enough?
For a condo or a townhouse front, a video doorbell alone often covers the only way in. A detached house has at least a front door, a driveway and a back door, and one camera can't see all three.
Do I need a camera on every side of the house?
Only on sides with a way in: a door, a gate, a ground-floor window someone could reach, or a driveway. A blank side wall along a fence can usually wait for phase 2.
Does a video doorbell count as a camera?
Yes. It's usually the best camera for the front step because it sits at face height. Our plans count it separately so you can see the doorbell plus the outdoor cameras.
This is the general answer. Your house has its own.
Pick your layout and rules, and see the cameras, blind spots and 3-year cost for your home.