Where to Place Your Home Security Camera

• Mapping out your security camera placement is a great way to get the most value out of your cameras.
• Installing cameras can be tricky, so take your time and do it right. Head to our step-by-step guide to security camera installation for more details.
• Strategic placement matters. When determining where to position your cameras, examine your property from an intruder’s perspective to identify vulnerable spots.

Finding the best home security cameras to buy is one thing; picking out the best spots to install them is another. After testing and installing over 150 different camera models in various conditions, we’ve developed a systematic approach to camera placement that maximizes coverage while minimizing blind spots. So, we’ve mastered the art of placing security cameras to get the most coverage and value out of your cameras. And today we’re sharing this knowledge with you.

Smart camera placement goes beyond simply mounting devices. It requires understanding coverage zones, entry points, and potential vulnerabilities. We’ll cover everything from the four main areas you want security cameras to federal and state laws that might restrict your ability to put cameras wherever you want them. After, you’ll be ready to install your own security cameras just like the pros.

Where To Install Security Cameras

The first question to answer is, where should you install your security cameras? Here are some common areas to place your cameras:

• Ground-floor doors and windows: Most of the time, a burglar wants to enter your house the same way you do. And that’s through doors on the ground floor. Well, burglars enter through windows, too. This is why it’s important to have cameras on all of your doors and windows at ground level, both in your home and outside of it.

• Main stairs or hallway: Place a camera in any area where burglars would have to walk through to access most of your home. This is most likely a hallway on the first floor or a main stairway to the upstairs.
• Common areas: You may also want to secure areas that you use on a daily basis, like a living room or kitchen. This gives you eyes on the most trafficked areas of your home.
• Driveway: We recommend placing an outdoor camera so that it can watch over the entire length of your driveway. Motion-activated cameras in driveways can capture license plates and vehicle details, providing crucial evidence if needed.

Optional Places to Install Security Cameras

There are a few more spots you should consider placing a security camera. But, these spots really depend on the layout of your home. So, here are a few of the places you should install cameras to fit the needs of your home:

• Yard: Secure both your front and back yard with outdoor cameras. Strategic yard coverage can detect suspicious activity before it reaches your home, with many modern cameras offering person detection to reduce false alerts from animals.
• Second Floor: Do you keep jewelry or other expensive items upstairs? We suggest using an indoor camera to secure your main second-floor hallway. This is a great way to get more video evidence if you ever need to help the police solve a break-in at your home. But, it still avoids the privacy concerns that come with placing cameras in bedrooms or bathrooms.
• Basement: You don’t need to monitor your basement as much as the ground level and outside of your home. However, basements with exterior access points or valuable storage deserve camera coverage, especially if they connect to attached garages.
• Garages or detached buildings: You most likely keep your car in your garage. And we all know cars are valuable. If you store your tools in the same garage, that only adds to the value there. So, we suggest installing a camera in your garage to watch over these expensive items. You can always get a range extender or use a camera that doesn’t need Wi-Fi if your Wi-Fi can’t reach your garage. Check out our review of the Reolink GO for a camera that doesn’t require Wi-Fi.

Where Not To Place Security Cameras

There’s no doubt that security cameras are useful for monitoring your home. But there are some spots you just shouldn’t put them. Most of the time, this is due to legal and privacy concerns. Either way, here is our list of places you should not put cameras in your home:

• Neighbor’s property: Your state’s laws might ban you from using cameras that can see your neighbor’s yard or home. Make sure your security cameras can only see your home and not your neighbors’ home.
• Bedrooms: Although you may store valuables in your bedroom, it’s best to leave security cameras out for privacy reasons. Recent cybersecurity reports show that bedroom cameras are prime targets for hackers, who can exploit footage for blackmail or harassment.
• Bathrooms: The same goes for bathrooms. Installing cameras in bathrooms violates privacy expectations and may be illegal in many jurisdictions, regardless of who owns the property. And we’re sure your guests will appreciate it, too.

Other Factors to Consider

You need to think about more than just what rooms you want to put your cameras in. Here are other key factors to think about:

• • Visible vs. hidden: There’s debate amongst security experts on whether or not you should hide your cameras or make them visible. We’re of the opinion that you should make outdoor cameras visible and hide indoor cameras. That way, you get the benefit of visible cameras deterring criminals before they break in,1 but still capture their crime on camera if they burglarize your home.
  • Durability: Outdoor cameras need to be able to stand up to the weather. And most cameras don’t come with a cover which means they’ll get hit with rain, snow, and sleet. Look for cameras with at least an IP65 rating for weather resistance, though IP67 or higher provides better protection against extreme conditions. For a list of our most durable cameras, check out the best outdoor cameras of 2026.
  • Reflection and glare: In sunny rooms, rooms with mirrors, or any space outside, take note of all the reflections and glares. These can really impede the quality of your cameras’ footage. For outdoor cameras, we suggest you get a camera with HDR or High Dynamic Range. This feature lowers the effect of glare from the sun. (Read our Arlo Pro 3 review or our Nest Cam IQ Outdoor to learn about some great outdoor cameras with HDR.)
  • Total number of cameras: Each Wi-Fi camera typically uses 1 to 2 Mbps for standard definition and up to 5 Mbps for 4K streaming, so calculate your bandwidth needs before adding multiple cameras to avoid network congestion. You can also choose to get a second router just for your cameras. This keeps them from eating up all of your network speed (and trust us, your teenage kids will thank you, too).
  • Proximity to valuable objects: Burglars target the most expensive items in your house. That’s why we always recommend prioritizing rooms with valuables when deciding where to place cameras. However, burglars consider an item valuable if it’s expensive and easy to sell. Think things like portable electronics, TVs, jewelry, expensive clothing, cash, and watches instead of antique furniture or heavy appliances.2
  • Out of reach of criminals: Above all, try to place your cameras where a criminal can’t disable or tear them down. Mount cameras at least nine feet high and consider using tamper-resistant housing or protective cages in accessible areas. We have some tips on how to do that, which leads us to our next section……

Should I Get My Security Cameras Professionally Installed?

Most security cameras today are easy to install. They feature magnetic mounts with an adhesive strip or simple screw-in bracket that takes less than 15 minutes to set up. Many even offer clear step-by-step instructions directly in their app. However, some cameras, like Vivint, still require professional installation. That’s because their cameras use a hybrid wireless system that involves running wires through your walls. Check out our Vivint pricing page to see how much professional installation will cost you.

On the other hand, SimpliSafe and abode give you the choice between using their professional installers or doing a DIY install. Both of them use third-party installers though, so don’t expect the same service as ADT and Vivint offer. You can take a look at our pages on SimpliSafe’s costs and abode’s costs for more details.

But for the most part, you can install your cameras on your own. We should note though that wired cameras are harder to install than wireless cameras. And even if the camera you want doesn’t give you the option of professional installation, you can always hire someone else to install it. Look at sites like HomeAdvisor or Angie’s List for reviews of people who can help you install your cameras. But we believe in you. You probably won’t have any problems getting your cameras installed all by yourself.

Security Camera Placement Laws

Our Chief Editor, Gabe Turner, is also an attorney. That makes him more than qualified to speak on the federal and state laws on the placement of security cameras. Here’s what we learned from him that we want to share with you:

Federal

Let’s take a trip down memory lane, right to your middle school U.S. history class. Remember the U.S. Constitution? Well, the Fourth Amendment, if you recall, says that people have a right to a reasonable expectation of privacy. This constitutional protection was further clarified in the landmark 2001 Supreme Court case Kyllo v. United States, which specifically addressed surveillance technology and privacy rights.

After careful deliberation, the court ruled that the home was protected under the Fourth Amendment. That means it’s illegal to surveil someone else’s property,3 even from a public location or another privately owned place.

So again, make sure you don’t point your cameras at other people’s houses!

State

Each state has its own set of laws that can keep you from placing your security cameras where you want them. So, we suggest that you look up your state’s statutes before placing any of your cameras. If the law isn’t your thing at all, you might want to talk to a lawyer as well. We also think you should check in with your city, district, or county and ask them about any laws that might change your camera plans.

Where Do Most Break-Ins Occur?

The most likely place for break-ins to occur depends on your specific home and situation. There are different statistics for apartments compared to houses and renters compared to homeowners. Even different states have significantly different burglary rates per The layout of your home also impacts which risks you face. That’s why we think it’s best to understand how burglars think, so you can tailor your security to your home’s vulnerabilities.

Behavioral patterns of burglars reveal consistent targeting strategies. First, we want to note that most burglars break in through an unlocked door or window. That means, locking up when you leave can help keep your home safe. Once they break in, most burglars start in the master bedroom. There, they look for valuables before they move on to the rest of the house. As far as which homes to break into in the first place, they tend to prefer homes with large fences, overgrown trees or bushes, cheap wooden doors, or old window frames.

Conclusion

As you can see, home security doesn’t just mean buying and installing a bunch of security cameras, although that does help. Effective home security combines strategic camera placement with basic preventive measures like proper lighting, maintaining landscaping, and securing entry points—creating multiple layers of protection for your property.