Security Camera Installation Cost Estimator
Enter the number of cameras and your prices to get the total installation cost and the cost per camera.
How to use the Security Camera Installation Cost Estimator
- Enter the Number of cameras and the Price per camera.
- Enter the Recorder (NVR / DVR) price and the Hard drive / storage price. Use 0 for a cloud-only system, or when they are included. To size the drive, use the CCTV storage calculator.
- Enter the Average cable run per camera and pick feet, yards or metres. Then enter the Cable price for that unit. Measure from the recorder or switch to each camera and add the climb and some slack.
- Enter the Install hours per camera and the Labor rate per hour. Use 0 for both if you install the cameras yourself.
- Under More options, add a fixed setup or call-out fee, other equipment (PoE switch, power supplies, mounts), the sales tax rate and the currency.
- Read Total installation cost and Cost per camera, and the table of equipment, cable, tax and labor.
The example buttons fill in sample prices so you can see how a result is built; they are not market prices. Reset restores the starting example. Copy result copies the figures, Copy link keeps all your inputs in the page address, and Print / save as PDF prints the inputs, result, steps and date, which is handy for comparing quotes.
How is the cost of installing security cameras calculated?
The estimator adds four parts. Equipment is the number of cameras times the price per camera, plus the recorder, the storage and any other equipment you buy once. Cable is the number of cameras times the average run times the price per unit of length. Sales tax is your rate applied to equipment and cable. Labor is the number of cameras times the hours per camera times the hourly rate, plus any fixed setup fee. The total is the sum, and the cost per camera is the total divided by the number of cameras.
For example, with 4 cameras at 80 each, a 150 recorder, a 90 drive, 40 of other equipment, 50 ft of cable per camera at 0.30 per foot, 8% tax, 1.5 hours per camera at 60 per hour and a 100 setup fee: equipment is 600, cable is 60, tax is 8% of 660 = 52.80, labor is 4 × 1.5 × 60 + 100 = 460, and the total is 1,172.80, or 293.20 per camera. Those are example prices, not a quote.
What changes the cost of a camera system?
Which parts of the bill grow when you add a camera and which stay fixed matter most. The recorder, the drive and the setup fee are paid once, so the cost per camera falls as the system grows. Cameras, cable and install hours rise with every camera. Long cable runs, drilling through brick or concrete, running cable in attics or outdoors in conduit, and mounting at height all raise the hours per camera, so ask your installer what each camera really involves. Wireless cameras can cut the cable cost, but they still need power.
Is the estimate a quote?
No. It is arithmetic on the numbers you enter, for budgeting and comparing quotes. An installer’s quote may include things not listed here, such as permits, a minimum charge, or warranty terms.
Sources
- Arithmetic on user-entered prices: total = equipment + cable + tax + labor. No market prices are built in, so nothing on this page depends on a survey or an average.
Worked examples
| Input | Result |
|---|---|
| 4 cameras at 80 each, 1.5 h per camera at 60 per hour | $1,172.80 in total, $293.20 per camera |
| 8 cameras at 110 each, 1.5 h per camera at 45 per hour | €2,100.00 in total, €262.50 per camera |
| 1 cameras at 80 each, 1.5 h per camera at 60 per hour | $185.00 in total, $185.00 per camera |
Calculated by the tool above with these values.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to install security cameras?
It depends on how many cameras you have, the equipment you choose, how long the cable runs are, and the labor rates where you live. Rather than quote an average, this estimator adds up your own prices. Enter quotes or store prices and you get a total for your job.
Can I use this for a do-it-yourself installation?
Yes. Set the install hours and the labor rate to 0, and the setup fee to 0. The result is then the cost of the equipment, the cable and the tax.
Does the estimate include labor and tax?
Yes, both. Labor is hours per camera times your hourly rate plus an optional fixed fee. Sales tax is applied to equipment and cable at the rate you enter; set it to 0 if it does not apply.
How do I work out the cable I need?
Measure the path from the recorder or switch to each camera, including the climb up the wall and some slack, and enter the average. The estimator multiplies it by the number of cameras and shows the total cable to buy.
Why is the cost per camera lower with more cameras?
The recorder, the drive and the setup fee are paid once, so they are shared among more cameras. Cameras, cable and labor grow with each camera.
Is my data uploaded anywhere?
No. The estimator runs in your browser, and nothing you type is uploaded. It is free and needs no sign-up.
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