Home security cameras, especially wireless models, offers incredible freedom of placement, whether you place one on a shelf or mount it on your eaves. But with all angles of average yards, plus indoor spaces you want to keep track of without encountering problemsfinding just the right place is challenging.

A wide field of view and multiple angle options — as with Nest’s magnetic base — can help a lot. But you still need to make a final placement decision for your camera, and that’s where we come in. After years of testing security cameras of all sizes, here are our top recommendations for placing a security camera.

For more home security tips, check out the how-to prevent your home security cameras from being hackedand the best cheap home security systems you can buy.

Where to install a home security camera

1. Exterior: Front door

You might assume that intruders always sneak in through the side entrance, but statistics from the International Association of Certified Home Inspectors show that 34% of burglars use the front door. It is also where package thieves are likely to strike. A camera at your main entrance keeps track of everyone who enters and exits your home, from family members and babysitters to maintenance staff, delivery staff and more.

Pro tips: Video doorbells is a good choice for the front door. You can use them as a primary camera or in combination with another outdoor camera directed towards the yard or garage.

2. Exterior: Rear and side doors

Doors that are out of sight allow visitors to enter undetected, whether they are invited or not. NACHI statistics show that 22% of burglaries take place through the back door. To ensure full awareness of everyone entering and exiting, add cameras to your secondary doors, especially if one is used as often or more often than your front door, or if one (such as a basement door) seems particularly inviting or accessible to a potential intruder.

3. Exterior: Garage and driveway

Garage is a common target for burglars as they are one of the weakest entry points. A camera pointed at your garage and/or driveway keeps a watchful eye on bikes, tools, grills, sports equipment, cars and anyone who handles them. If your garage is detached, the camera will help you stay connected. If the garage is connected, the extra layer of security monitors another possible entrance to your home. If there is a gate at the end of your driveway, you may want to have a camera there to detect anyone trying to enter.

4. Exterior: Wide view of the garden

Monitoring the yard will help you keep track of anyone looking at your house. It is also handy for capturing the activities of children, animals and intruders. As with garages, look for cams that have a wide field of view to capture plenty of action, at least 130 degrees and preferably more. If you have a yard entrance, such as a fence gate or shed door, make sure the camera can see it.

5. Interior: Common areas

Placing cameras in focal points like the kitchen or living room is a good way to see if the kids are doing what they’re supposed to be doing, if the babysitter is paying attention, what the pets are up to, or to check if the household help likes. cleaners and repairmen. Consider prioritizing any room that has large windows on the ground floor – that way you can see if someone is tampering with them or using one as a break-in point. If there’s a key point of interest like a couch, pet bed, or play area in the living room, make sure the camera can see it.

6. Interior: Main staircase or hall

Place a camera in the main thoroughfares of your home to make it difficult for someone to move around undetected. If someone breaks in through a bathroom, bedroom or other unmonitored area, they will still be caught on camera moving around the house.

Here’s where you should Never install a security camera

• Places that violate your neighbor’s privacy. Cameras are great for your safety, but you need to be mindful of the privacy of others in your neighborhood. Generally, homeowners are allowed to have outdoor surveillance cameras that cover a wide area, and it’s usually OK to capture your neighbor’s public property in the background of your footage. Read more with our full guide.
• Bedroom and bathroom. The need to keep a watchful eye on children or the elderly in your household is understandable. However, some areas have a legitimate expectation of privacy. Additionally, if you use a monitoring service, you run the risk of a hacker tap a camera that has access to your private spaces. Fortunately, there are many options. Baby monitors are smart choices for very small children’s rooms. Motion detectors and glass break sensors, as part of a connected home security system, can be added to doors and windows. Personal medical alert systems are strong choices for seniors.

Tips for outdoor security camera placement

Once you’ve decided which locations to monitor, you’ll also need to plan your mounting decisions. These tips will make working with this step easy:

• Install cameras 8 to 10 feet off the ground. This height is low enough to capture fine details but high enough to be out of reach of thieves and vandals.
• Do not point cameras directly at the sun. Bright light causes glare and high contrast in your images, making it difficult to tell what’s going on. Consider the movement of the sun and angle your cameras for indirect light.
• Protect the camera from the elements. The best outdoor security cameras have plenty of weather and water resistance, but they are not all created equal. Choose a camera that is appropriately rated for your climate and place it under the eaves or in another semi-sheltered area if you can.
• Avoid places too close to branches or bushes. Plants grow over time and can block your security camera.
• Allow cameras to be visible. Visible cameras can act as a deterrent to theft, and it’s one of the best uses of your security system.

Tips for placing security cameras indoors

• Corners are your friends. Hanging an indoor camera in the corner of a room usually gives you the greatest possible vantage point.
• Choose a shelf for versatility. If you don’t need to assemble your comb, you can place it on a shelf to make adjustments later or even move it to another room.
• Windows can cause reflection problems. Pointing a camera at the window can degrade image quality. Many security cameras have infrared light, which facilitates motion detection and allows the cameras to work in low light. IR light can reflect off windows and other glass objects and obscure your images, especially in the dark. If your images look washed out or white, there is likely a reflection problem.
• Angle for indirect light. Again, direct light will wash out your images. With indoor cameras, pay attention to lights, light fixtures and bright windows. Avoid pointing the camera directly at these light sources.

Do video doorbells have special installation rules?

Place video doorbells so they have a good view of your front porch or entryway. These cameras are angled a little differently than other security cameras, so follow the instructions in the manual carefully. Usually they need to be placed about 4 feet up from the base of the front door. In tight spaces, video doorbells should be angled outwards to capture as much activity as possible. Fortunately, many video doorbells come with a special wedge for just this purpose. Otherwise, you put it where people would naturally press a doorbell.

Are there super portable security cameras?

In some cases, you may want a security camera that you can move around at all times. It makes it easy to put down wherever the kids are playing, indoors or out, or to focus on a problem spot where things are still missing (avoid workplace fridges, please).

In these cases, we recommend battery operated indoor/outdoor cameras that you can move anywhere, with weather resistance in case it is left out in the rain. A candidate is Ring’s Stick-Up Cam Pro ($180), with an excellent collection of attention-grabbing features. Another option is Google Nest Indoor/Outdoor Cam Battery Model ($176)which is often shown assembled but can also come with a table bracket.

To learn more, check out our picks for the best outdoor security cameras or explore our comprehensive guide to the best home security systems.