Free tool
How many cameras do I need?
A starting count built from the places that actually matter: ways in, points of value and the open areas between them. Treat it as a planning number, then walk the site.
Starting camera count
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Rules of thumb only. An indoor overview camera is counted roughly per 250 m², a yard camera per 400 m². Overlaps, pillars, racking and mezzanines all change the real answer, which is why a walk-through beats any calculator.
How this is worked out
Start with the ways in and the points of value, because those are the frames you will actually look at after an incident. Open areas then get overview cameras so you can follow movement between those points.
- One camera per door, gate and dock. Mounted to catch the face or the vehicle as it comes through, not the back of a head walking away.
- One per counter or pay point. Angled across the transaction, not straight down at the till.
- Overview cameras roughly per 250 m² indoors and per 400 m² of yard, adjusted for racking and corners.
- Identification adds cameras. At identify level the view has to be tight, so you usually need a dedicated face camera plus an overview at that entry.
- Plates need their own camera set for the angle, distance and shutter speed. See the plate camera guide.
Read the full reasoning in how many security cameras do I need, then size the recorder with the storage calculator.