The 6 Best Places to Put Your Home Security Camera

After installing hundreds of home security cameras, I’ve found the best places for both safety and convenience.

One of the biggest changes in home security is how much useful information cameras can now provide – from delivery updates to AI-powered searches and even facial recognition. But all of that only works if you place your camera in the right spot.

I’ve tested a wide range of security cameras in almost every possible location, from shelf-mounted models to magnetic bases and solar-powered options. Here are the six best spots to install them, plus a few key tips to get the most out of your system.

Best Places to Put Your Home Security Camera

Where should you install a home security camera?

1. Front door (exterior)

Best Places to Put Your Home Security Camera, It’s tempting to think burglars always sneak in through a side entrance, but research from the International Association of Certified Home Inspectors shows that 34% of burglars use the front door. It’s also the number-one target for parcel theft.

A camera at your main entrance lets you monitor everyone coming and going – from family members and babysitters to tradespeople and couriers.

💡 Pro tip: A video doorbell is a smart choice here. Use it as your main camera, or pair it with another outdoor camera aimed at the garden or garage.

2. Back and side doors (exterior)

Less visible entrances are attractive to intruders. In fact, 22% of break-ins happen via the back door. Adding cameras to secondary doors ensures you’re always aware of who’s entering or leaving – whether it’s used regularly by the household or just an occasional entry point, such as a basement door.

3. Garage and driveway (exterior)

Garages are popular with burglars because they’re often less secure. A camera covering your garage and driveway keeps an eye on cars, bikes, tools, sports gear, and anyone handling them.

If your garage is detached, a camera helps you stay connected. If it’s attached, it adds another protective layer to your home’s entry points. If you’ve got a gated driveway, consider a camera there too.

4. Garden or outdoor space (exterior)

A wide-angle camera overlooking your garden helps spot anyone scoping out the property – while also keeping an eye on children, pets, or wildlife.

Look for cameras with a field of view of at least 130 degrees. Position them to capture garden gates, shed doors, or other vulnerable spots.

It can be essential to have a high-quality vision camera outdoors

5. Living areas (interior)

You can keep an eye on kids, pets, or household staff by putting cameras in shared areas like the kitchen or living room. It's also a good way to keep an eye on big windows on the ground floor, which thieves might try to break into.

If you have a sofa, pet bed, or children’s play area you particularly want to keep an eye on, make sure the camera covers it.

6. Inside hallways and stairways

Put cameras in the major hallways or staircases of your home. This makes it tougher for someone to go unnoticed. Even if they come in through a restroom or spare room that isn't being watched, they will probably have to go through a vital corridor.

Where cameras shouldn't be put up

For your neighbour's property, it's okay if their public-facing property is in the backdrop, but don't point your camera straight into their home or garden.

People probably expect privacy in bedrooms and bathrooms, so putting cameras up here could be risky, both legally and in terms of hacking. Instead, you may use baby monitors, motion sensors, or medical alert systems for persons in your home who are weak.

How to put up outside camera

Put cameras 8 to 10 feet off the ground. This will keep people from messing with them but still let you see details. Don't point directly at the sun since it makes things look brighter and darker. Pick types that are weatherproof and, if you can, put them under eaves or other sheltered areas. Don't let them get too close to plants or tree branches that can block their view. Don't hide them; cameras that are easy to see are a significant deterrent.

How to put your indoor camera where it will work best

Corners are the finest places to cover a room. If you wish to move it later, a shelf mount gives you more options.

Don't point cameras directly at windows; at night, infrared light can reflect off of them and wash out the footage. To stop glare from lamps or windows, put cameras in places where they won't get direct light.

Ragnar Recommends - Expert tip: Finding the right camera angle

The angle of your CCTV cameras is one key thing to bear in mind. If the camera is too high, it might not be able to see important things like a person's face. Putting a camera lower down makes it far better at recognising and identifying faces.

Higher locations, on the other hand, do have their uses. A higher angle is great if you want to cover a lot of ground, like to set off motion alerts all over a driveway or garden. You may set up digital "zones" on the screen of many modern cameras. If anything moves in that region, your phone will get a notification.

To sum up, put cameras lower when you want to see faces and higher when you want to see as much as possible.

What do you think of video doorbells?

Video doorbells are a little different. They should normally be put around four feet above the door's base and at an angle so that they can see as much of your doorway as feasible. Many come with wedge mounts to help with hard angles.

Are portable cameras worth it?

If you want a camera that you can take with you indoors or outside, look into battery-powered ones. These are great for keeping an eye on kids playing outside or concealing up areas that need work.

There are choices like:

Ring Stick-Up Cam Pro: weatherproof and adaptable.

Google Nest Indoor/Outdoor Cam (battery) can be mounted or utilised with a stand on a table.

Final thoughts

The location of your cameras is critical. Begin with your front door, then cover your other entries and any weak spots inside and outside. If you put your cameras in the right places and install them correctly, they will not only keep your home safe but also provide you peace of mind.