How to Choose the Right Camera Placement for Maximum Security Coverage

I've got a fun game for you: Walk outside and look at your security cameras. If you can spot all of them easily, congratulations – so can the bad guys.

Here's a wild stat: 80% of home security cameras are basically useless because of bad placement. I learned this the hard way when my "perfectly positioned" camera caught a crystal-clear video of my neighbor's cat while someone was stealing my bike.

Let's fix that.

The Truth About Security Camera Placement

Most people approach camera placement like they're decorating – "this spot looks nice." Wrong. Dead wrong.

Think like a thief for a second. You're not looking for cameras. You're looking for blind spots. And buddy, your house probably has plenty.

The Money Spots (Where Cameras Actually Matter)

Front Door: The Most Obvious (Yet Most Screwed Up) Spot

Fun fact: 34% of burglars just waltz right through the front door. Yet most people mount their cameras so high they only catch the tops of heads. Great for identifying helicopter landings, not so much for catching thieves.

The fix? Mount your camera at 8-10 feet, angled down at about 30 degrees. You want to see faces, not scalps.

The Sneaky Spots Most People Miss

Remember my bike story? Classic rookie mistake. I had the front covered but forgot about the sides. Here's what the pros know:

Side access points are like the back doors of a nightclub – that's where the interesting stuff happens. Cover these areas:

Side gates (the preferred entry point for pros)
Ground-level windows (especially ones hidden from street view)
That weird space between your house and your neighbor's fence

The "Oh Crap" Zones

These are the spots you only think about after something goes wrong. Let's get ahead of that:

The Package Death Zone (aka Your Porch)

Amazon deliveries are basically like leaving cash on your doorstep. But here's the trick: Don't just point a camera at your door. You need:

A wide angle that catches the whole approach. Why? Because porch pirates aren't master criminals – they're opportunists. If they see a camera watching the whole area, they'll usually move on to an easier target.

Your Car's Personal Bodyguard

Got a driveway? Here's something most people don't know: Most car-related crimes are scoped out days in advance. A well-placed camera here isn't just recording crimes – it's preventing them.

Pro tip: Mount this one high enough to catch license plates. That means at least 4 feet off the ground, angled slightly down. Trust me, the police will thank you.

The Tech That Actually Matters

Let's talk hardware, but I'll keep it simple:

Dome vs. Bullet Cameras: The Real Deal

Dome cameras are like the ninjas of security – nobody knows where they're looking. Perfect for:

Indoor spaces where you want to be subtle
Covered porches where weather isn't an issue
Areas where you don't want to broadcast the camera's direction

Bullet cameras are the bouncers – obvious and intimidating. Use them:

On perimeter walls
Covering long distances
Anywhere you want potential thieves to think twice

The Mistakes That'll Make You Facepalm

The Sun is Not Your Friend Actually, it's your camera's worst enemy. A camera staring into the sun is about as useful as sunglasses at night. Think about sun patterns before mounting.
The Coverage Gap One camera with a perfect view is better than three with mediocre angles. But two cameras with overlapping views? Now we're talking.

Power Moves: Next-Level Stuff

Here's what separates the pros from the amateurs:

The Three-Layer Strategy

Think of security like an onion (stay with me here):

Layer 1: Perimeter (catch them before they get close)
Layer 2: Entry points (catch them if they try to get in)
Layer 3: Interior (catch them if they actually make it inside)

The Night Game

All those crystal-clear daytime camera shots are great, but most pros work at night. Two options:

Good lighting (which also serves as a deterrent)
IR cameras (for ninja-level surveillance)

What This Actually Costs

Let's talk money:

Small House Setup: $500-1,000

4-6 strategically placed cameras
Mix of dome and bullet
DIY installation

Large Property: $1,500-3,000

8-16 cameras
Professional grade equipment
Consider professional installation

The Bottom Line

Good camera placement is like good barbecue – it looks simple until you try to do it yourself. But unlike barbecue, security camera mistakes can cost you more than just an embarrassing dinner party.

Follow this guide, and you'll have what 90% of homeowners don't: security cameras that actually do their job.

Remember: The best security system in the world is useless if it's pointing at your garden gnomes while someone's walking off with your flat-screen.

Quick Start Checklist:

Walk your property like a thief
Mark entry points
Plan your angles
Test before mounting
Adjust and optimize

Now go forth and position those cameras like someone who knows what they're doing. Your future self will thank you when something actually goes down.