Where to install security cameras in a single-story house
Put cameras where someone can get in, not where there is spare wall. In the example single-story house, with 10 entry points across gates, doors, windows and side passages, the planner needed 4 cameras to cover every one at the right level of detail. A single camera covers 4 of them.
Start with the entry points
The number of cameras comes from the entry points, not the square footage. List the gates, the doors, the windows that face outside and the passages someone can walk through. Each kind needs a different level of detail: at the gate you want to identify who arrives (250 px/m), at a door recognize is enough (125 px/m) and at a window or passage observe is enough (62 px/m).
Gate: close and facing whoever comes in
A 1080p camera with a 2.8 mm lens only identifies a person up to 2.8 m. That is why the gate camera goes on the boundary wall itself or on the nearest facade, aimed where people stop. Farther than that it still recognizes, up to 6 m, but does not identify. With a 6 mm lens identification reaches 7.4 m, but the angle drops to 54°.
Doors, windows and passages
Front doors and windows usually fall inside the field of view of the gate camera or of a camera on the facade. The back and the side passages need cameras of their own: a narrow passage is seen end to end by a camera in a corner, since observe reaches 12 m with a 2.8 mm lens.
Mounting height
The planner uses 2.8 m as the default height. Higher protects the camera, but it lengthens the distance to the face and shortens the identification range a little. Too low, the camera is easy to reach and turn away.
The street and the neighbors
When a field of view goes past the boundary wall, through an open gate or over the sidewalk, the planner warns you. Adjust the angle to record what is yours. It is an informative warning, not legal advice.
The numbers in this guide come from the planner's model: pixel density per the DORI standard, each lens's typical field of view and average bit rates. Real cameras vary; check your model's data sheet.
Frequently asked questions
How many cameras does a single-story house need?
The example house, with 10 entry points, needed 4. Homes with a single gate and a closed back need fewer; corner lots, more.
Is a camera inside the house worth it?
A camera in the living room or an inside hallway sees whoever is already in. It complements, but does not replace, the cameras at the entry points.