Where should I put security cameras on my house?

Start with the doors and the driveway

Put your first cameras where a person has to pass to reach the house: the front door, the back or side door and the driveway or walkway. That covers the ordinary ways in and gives a clear picture of anyone who walks up. Add a camera for a detached garage, a side gate or a ground-floor window that is out of sight of the street only after those are covered.

Skip the temptation to watch the whole yard from a corner. A camera sees faces best when the person is close. Google's guidance is that an adult of average height should be no more than 20 ft away from your camera,^[2] and to monitor activity at night, place your camera close to the area of interest.^[2] Two cameras that each cover a doorway beat one wide shot of the lawn.

How high, and which way it points

Heights vary by maker. Ring says outdoor security cameras are designed to be mounted 8 to 10 feet (2.5 to 3 meters) from the ground with a 20-degree tilt for optimal performance.^[1] For its video doorbells, it says doorbells should be mounted 48 inches (1.22 meters) from the ground for optimal motion detection.^[1] Google says a Nest Cam (battery) should be placed between 6 and 6.5 ft (1.8 and 2 m) high for optimal detection.^[2] Read the manual for your exact model and follow it.

Higher is harder to reach and tamper with, but too high loses detail on faces. Pointing the lens slightly downward keeps the sky out of the shot, which also keeps the camera from being fooled by sunrise and sunset glare. Google adds that if you get a lot of glare, place your camera a little higher and angle it downward.^[2]

Pick a spot the weather will not punish

Google suggests you mount your outdoor camera in a shaded spot such as under an eave, or install a small shade above the camera.^[2] Under a soffit, the lens stays out of rain and direct sun. Google notes that shade keeps the sun from shining directly into the lens and helps prevent overheating in extreme temperatures.^[2]

Before you commit, walk the view. Ring tells owners to identify objects that could trigger false motion alerts or block your view, such as swaying trees, flags, bright lights, or buildings.^[1] A shrub that moves in every breeze will produce a steady stream of useless alerts.

Indoor cameras

Indoors, a room corner is the best default: Ring says mounting your camera in the corner of the room will provide the largest amount of coverage.^[1] Keep indoor cameras out of bedrooms and bathrooms, and aim them away from windows. Ring warns that positioning your camera to face a window, screen, or other transparent barrier can cause issues with motion detection and video quality.^[1]

Respect your neighbors

Point cameras at your own property. Ring's advice is that you might need to position your camera away from neighboring properties.^[1] Virginia law goes further for a camera that peers into someone's home: it makes it unlawful to knowingly and intentionally cause an electronic device to enter the property of another to secretly or furtively peep or spy into a dwelling under circumstances that would violate the occupant's reasonable expectation of privacy.^[3] A camera on your own wall that happens to catch a neighbor's yard is a different matter from one aimed at their windows, but the safest approach is to use privacy zones and keep their windows out of frame. Audio is a separate question; see whether you can record audio on a home security camera in Virginia.

Test before you drill

A camera is only useful if it stays online. Ring recommends you test the wifi signal strength at the mounting location.^[1] Stand there with your phone, hold the camera up and check its live view, then mount it. You can read more about what a system costs.

Stop and call a pro if

• The camera has to be hard-wired through a wall, soffit or attic to a power supply. That is electrical work, so hire a licensed electrician.
• The spot needs a ladder taller than a stepladder, or a roof, gable or second storey. Do not climb for a camera.
• You need to drill through brick, stucco or siding and are not sure what is behind it, such as a wire, a pipe or a flashing.
• You want cameras tied into an alarm panel, door locks or a recorder that needs network cabling.
• You are unsure of your sight lines into a neighbor's property and want a second opinion before you install.

Getting help in Virginia

If you would rather have someone install the cameras, browse Security & Smart Home or see more smart home answers. When you are ready, describe the job and local pros quote it.