Key Takeaways
- Camera placement is more important than camera quality — a well-placed budget camera outperforms a poorly placed premium one.
- Every home needs at minimum four cameras: front door, back door, driveway, and garage.
- Camera height of 8–10 feet provides the best balance of coverage and facial capture.
- Overlapping fields of view eliminate blind spots and ensure continuous coverage.
- Professional installation ensures optimal placement, weatherproofing, and cable management.
Start with a Property Walk-Through
Before purchasing a single camera, walk around your property and identify every possible entry point. Think like a criminal: where would you enter if you wanted to avoid being seen? Note areas of darkness, blind spots from neighbouring properties, and locations where someone could work undetected for 60+ seconds.
- Walk the perimeter at night to identify dark zones and blind spots
- Note all doors, windows, gates, and potential roof access points
- Identify where power outlets and internet connections are available
- Consider sight lines from the street — what can neighbours and passersby see?
The Four Essential Camera Positions
Every home security camera layout should start with these four positions before adding additional cameras. These four locations cover the entry points used in over 85% of residential break-ins in the GTA.
- Position 1 — Front door: Captures faces of everyone approaching the entrance
- Position 2 — Back door/patio: Covers the most common forced-entry point
- Position 3 — Driveway: Captures vehicles and anyone approaching from the street
- Position 4 — Garage: Captures the interior access door
If you can only afford four cameras, these are the four. Everything else is an enhancement — these four positions are the foundation.
Optimal Camera Height and Angle
Camera height is one of the most commonly misunderstood aspects of security camera installation. Too high and you capture the tops of heads — useless for identification. Too low and cameras are easily vandalized or blocked. The sweet spot for residential cameras is 8–10 feet, angled downward at 15–30 degrees.
- 8–10 feet height: Captures faces clearly while remaining out of easy reach
- 15–30 degree downward angle: Optimal for facial capture and wide coverage
- Avoid pointing cameras directly at the sun — use shade or sun shields
- Ensure the camera lens is not obstructed by eaves, gutters, or vegetation
Eliminating Blind Spots with Overlapping Coverage
Professional security camera layouts use overlapping fields of view to ensure there are no gaps in coverage. If a criminal can move from your property line to your back door without appearing on any camera, your system has a critical blind spot. Use wide-angle cameras (90–120 degrees) for open areas and narrower cameras for doorways and corridors.
- Each camera should overlap with at least one adjacent camera's field of view
- Use wide-angle cameras (90–120°) for driveways and backyards
- Use narrower cameras (60–80°) for doorways and corridors where detail matters
- Test coverage by walking the property while watching the live feed
Indoor vs. Outdoor Camera Placement
Indoor cameras serve a different purpose than outdoor cameras. While outdoor cameras deter and detect intrusion attempts, indoor cameras document what happens if an intruder gets inside. Key indoor positions include the main staircase, living room, and any room containing high-value items.
- Main staircase: Anyone moving between floors must pass this point
- Living room: Covers the largest open area and most common valuables
- Home office or safe room: Protects high-value items and documents
- Ensure indoor cameras are not visible from outside windows — this reveals your coverage
When to Call a Professional
While basic camera installation is within the capability of a handy homeowner, professional installation is strongly recommended for systems with more than four cameras, any installation requiring cable runs through walls or attics, and all commercial properties. Professional installers ensure optimal placement, proper weatherproofing, and correct NVR configuration.
- Professional installation recommended for 4+ camera systems
- Required for any installation involving electrical work or conduit
- Professionals carry liability insurance — important if installation causes property damage
- Alliance Security Systems offers professional installation across all GTA cities
We regularly visit homes where the cameras are mounted at 15+ feet and capturing nothing but the tops of heads and rooftops.
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Written by
Marcus Thompson
Lead Installation Technician — Alliance Security Systems
Marcus Thompson is the Lead Installation Technician at Alliance Security Systems with 14 years of hands‑on experience installing security camera systems across the GTA. He has personally installed over 2,000 camera systems ranging from single‑camera residential setups to 200+ camera commercial deployments.