How many security cameras does a house need?
Four to six cameras covers most homes: front door, driveway, both sides or gates, and the back yard. Larger properties with outbuildings or long approaches usually need six to ten.
Cover paths, not acreage
People have to walk somewhere. Cover the front door, the driveway approach, side gates and the back slider. A camera framing a wide lawn captures very little of value.
One well-aimed camera at the front door is worth more than three wide shots of the yard.
Mounting height
Eight to ten feet is the sweet spot — out of reach, but low enough to capture faces rather than the tops of heads. Very high mounting is the most common mistake in home installs.
Retention
Two to four weeks is typical for a home. Retention depends on camera count, resolution and recorder storage, so decide the window you want before the recorder is sized.