How many CCTV cameras do I need?
There is no right number. The right system covers the places that matter, with each camera doing a clear job. This guide shows you how to work out what your property needs before you ask for quotes.
Start with jobs, not numbers
Packages are often sold as four, eight or sixteen cameras. That is the wrong place to start. A camera can do one of three jobs: detect that someone is there, recognise someone you know, or identify a stranger clearly enough to show the police. Detection needs a wide view. Identification needs a close, well-lit view of a face or a number plate. One camera rarely does both well.
So instead of asking how many cameras, ask: where would someone come in, and what do I need to see there?
Walk the property
Walk around your property the way an intruder might. Start at the street. Note the gate, the pedestrian gate, any low or climbable section of wall, side passages, the back boundary, and every door and window that can be reached from the ground. Then note where cars park and where deliveries arrive. Stats SA reports that housebreaking is the most common crime experienced by households in South Africa, so the doors and windows of the house deserve as much attention as the boundary.
A typical layout for a Durban home
That puts many freestanding homes somewhere in the range of four to eight cameras, but a townhouse may need two and a large plot in Kloof or Gillitts may need more. The point is to cover the jobs, not to hit a number.
- Gate and driveway: one camera to identify people and, if wanted, a second to read plates.
- Front door: one camera at face height, or a video doorbell.
- Side passages: one camera each, because they are common entry routes and hard to see.
- Back garden and boundary: one or two wide cameras for detection.
- Back door or patio: one camera, especially if it is out of sight of neighbours.
- Garage or outbuildings: one camera if they hold valuables.
Placement matters more than count
A camera mounted high under the eaves sees a wide area but often only the top of a head. A camera at head height near a door sees faces but can be tampered with. Good designs mix both: wide cameras high up for detection, and a few cameras lower and closer at doors and gates for identification. Position cameras so they do not look straight into the sun or into bright lights at night.
Lighting changes the answer
At night, cameras rely on infrared or available light. A dark yard needs more or better cameras to see anything; a lit yard needs fewer. Motion lights on driveways and passages often improve night footage more than an extra camera would. Trees and plants close to a camera reflect infrared and spoil the picture, which is a common problem in leafy suburbs such as La Lucia and Westville.
Leave room to grow
Choose a recorder with a few more channels than you need today. Adding a camera to a recorder with a spare channel is simple; replacing a full recorder is not. The same goes for hard drive size: more cameras need more storage to keep the same number of days of footage.
Businesses and complexes
For a business, add cameras for the till or reception, stock areas, loading areas and parking. For a complex, the shared gate, visitor parking and common walkways come first. Both should take advice on privacy before installation. See business CCTV installation.
Next steps
Sketch your property with the entry points marked and send it with your enquiry. The installer will suggest a layout and explain what each camera is for. See CCTV installation for homes, local pages such as home CCTV in Durban North, and our guide to what moves a CCTV quote.
Frequently asked questions
Is four cameras enough for a house?
For some homes, yes, if they cover the gate, front door and main entry routes. Larger plots usually need more.
Should I put cameras inside the house?
Some people do, for example covering the main living area while away. Think about privacy for family, staff and guests first.
Can one camera cover the whole front of my house?
It can show the whole area, but usually not with enough detail to identify someone. Pair a wide camera with closer cameras at the gate and door.