Best camera placement for homes

Why Camera Placement Matters

Even the best security camera is only as good as its placement. A $500 camera pointed at a fence will be outperformed by a $150 camera covering your front door. Strategic placement ensures you capture clear, usable footage of faces, vehicles, and events — exactly what police need if an incident occurs.

The 4 Priority Zones for Every Australian Home

1. Front Door and Porch

Why: Over 34% of burglars enter through the front door. This is also where package theft occurs.

• Height: 2.5–3 metres, angled down at 15–20°
• Position: Above or beside the door, ensuring the face of anyone approaching is captured
• Camera type: Doorbell camera or turret/dome with wide-angle lens (2.8mm)
• Night vision: Essential — most break-ins occur between 10pm and 3am

2. Back Door and Rear Yard

Why: The back of the house is the second most common entry point, and it's often less visible to neighbours.

• Height: 2.5–3 metres
• Position: Covering the back door, patio, and any ground-floor windows
• Lens: 2.8mm for wide coverage of the yard
• Consider: A camera covering the fence line if your property backs onto a lane or park

3. Side Gates and Passages

Why: Side gates are frequently used by burglars to access the rear of properties undetected.

• Height: 2–2.5 metres (passages are often narrower)
• Position: At the end of the passage pointing toward the gate
• Lens: 2.8mm wide angle for narrow spaces
• Tip: If you have two side passages, cover both — one camera each

4. Driveway and Garage

Why: Vehicle theft, break-ins to cars, and identifying vehicles used in crimes.

• Height: 3–4 metres for a wider field of view
• Position: Angled to capture number plates of vehicles entering/leaving
• Camera type: Bullet camera with varifocal lens (2.8–12mm) for adjustable zoom
• Night vision: Cameras with colour night vision (e.g., Hikvision ColorVu) are excellent here

How Many Cameras Do You Need?

Camera Angle and Height Guidelines

• Too low (below 2m): Easy to tamper with, vandalise, or steal
• Too high (above 4m): Faces become unrecognisable — you'll see the tops of heads
• Sweet spot (2.5–3m): Captures clear facial detail while being out of easy reach

Field of View by Lens Size

Common Placement Mistakes

• Pointing cameras into the sun: East-facing cameras will be blinded at sunrise, west-facing at sunset. Adjust angles or use cameras with WDR (Wide Dynamic Range)
• Covering too much with one camera: Don't try to cover your entire property with a single wide-angle camera. Multiple cameras with focused coverage beats one camera trying to do everything
• Ignoring internal cameras: A camera in a hallway or living room captures intruders who evade external cameras. Keep one inside pointed at the main corridor
• Forgetting about IR reflection: Mounting cameras under eaves with nearby white walls can cause IR bounce — the night image appears washed out. Test at night and adjust if needed
• No coverage overlap: Ensure there are no blind spots between cameras. A burglar who spots a gap will exploit it

Australian-Specific Considerations

• Privacy laws: In most Australian states, you can record your own property. However, cameras must not record neighbours' private spaces (bedrooms, bathrooms). Check your state's Surveillance Devices Act
• Weather: Use IP67-rated cameras for outdoor use. Australian UV is harsh — avoid cheap plastic housings
• Wildlife: Reduce false motion alerts by adjusting motion detection zones to exclude trees and areas where possums, birds, or pets frequently trigger alerts
• Bushfire zones: Use metal camera housings and metal conduit in BAL-rated areas

Summary

Good camera placement follows a simple principle: cover every entry point first, then add coverage for high-value areas. Use the right lens for each position, mount at the correct height, and test your setup at both day and night. A well-planned 4-camera system will outperform a poorly placed 8-camera system every time.