Quick answer
The short answer
The best camera placements: front door (catches everyone who approaches), driveway/garage (vehicle traffic), side gates (common bypass routes), and back yard angles (covers patio doors and back fence). Mount cameras 8–10 feet up, angled slightly down, never aimed directly into bright sun. Cover the routes someone would actually take, not just the building.
What to know first
- Front door, driveway, side gates, back yard—the four high-value zones.
- Mount 8–10 feet high, angled slightly down—high enough to be hard to disable, low enough to capture faces.
- Avoid pointing cameras into direct sun (washes out the image and can damage sensors over time).
Cover the routes, not just the building
The most common mistake is aiming all cameras at the house. The actual valuable footage is the approach—someone walking up the driveway, opening a gate, crossing a yard. A camera staring at a wall captures a lot less useful video than one watching a path.
Walk your property as if you were trying to get into the house unseen. Where would you go? Those are your camera spots.
Mounting height and angle
8–10 feet up, angled 15–30 degrees down. High enough that someone can’t easily reach up and disable it, low enough that you capture faces (not the tops of heads). For doorbells, the bell itself usually puts the camera at face height anyway.
Avoid pointing cameras directly into bright sun. The image washes out, and over time direct sun can damage CMOS sensors.
Wire path and concealment
A camera that screams "wire run on the outside of the house" is uglier and easier to disable than a camera fed cleanly through the wall or attic. We fish wire wherever possible so the camera looks intentional, not stuck on after the fact.
For wired (PoE) cameras, we plan the route at the walkthrough so you know where wire will and won’t be visible before we run any of it.
Where cameras pay off most
Coverage priorities by purpose.
| Location | Why it matters | Camera type |
|---|---|---|
| Front door | Every visitor, package thieves, primary entry | Smart doorbell + porch camera |
| Driveway / garage | Vehicle activity, attached garage entry | Wide-angle PoE outdoor |
| Side gates | Common bypass route, especially at night | PIR motion + camera |
| Back patio / yard | Back doors, glass slider entry | PoE outdoor with night vision |
Related next steps
If this sounds like what you are dealing with, these service pages explain the next step.
Frequently asked questions
How many cameras does an average house need?
Most homes get good coverage with 4–6 cameras: doorbell, driveway, two side gates, back yard. Larger lots or homes with multiple entries need more.
Should I tell people my house has cameras?
Yes—visible signage and visible cameras are deterrents. The best camera is the one a thief decides not to test.
Can I aim cameras at my neighbor’s yard?
Generally no—privacy laws vary by jurisdiction but covering your own property only is the safe rule.
Do cameras work at night?
Yes—modern cameras have IR or color night vision good for 30+ feet. Pair with motion floodlights for daytime-quality footage at night.
Work with our team
Call (661) 293-0213 or use the contact form.
