How CCTV works · 4 min read
How many cameras
does my house need?
Fewer than the kit in the shop suggests. Placement beats count: four cameras in the right places outperform eight in the wrong ones. Here's the answer by property type.
| Property | Cameras | Positions |
|---|---|---|
| Terrace / townhouse | 2–3 | Front approach; rear gate or yard; side alley if there is one |
| Semi-detached | 3–4 | Drive (plates); front door; side access; rear garden |
| Detached | 4–6 | Drive road-end; front approach; both sides; rear corners |
| Large / gated | 6–8+ | Gate (plates); drive; front; sides; rear corners; outbuildings; gate intercom |
The principle
Every camera should answer a question: who came up the drive, who's at the door, who went down the side, who's in the garden. If a position doesn't answer one, it doesn't need a camera. Then the two or three positions where identification matters get 8MP and colour night vision; the rest can be 4MP.
Add a doorbell and an alarm?
A doorbell camera covers callers and parcels and is worth having on almost any home. An app-armed alarm on the doors tells you the moment one opens, which cameras can't. Most homes we fit end up with cameras + doorbell, and about half add the alarm.
The estimate builder gives a specification for your property type in under a minute. A free survey turns it into a fixed price.
Your property decides. Not the logo.
Questions
Good to know.
Is one camera better than nothing?
Yes — on the main approach with a light. But it can't cover the back, which is where most break-ins are.
Do I need cameras inside?
Rarely for a family home. Businesses, yes.
Can I start small and add later?
Yes — buy a recorder with spare channels and add cameras as you go.