Security Camera Installation Cost Guide: Prices, Factors, and Savings Tips
Find out how much it costs to install security cameras, the factors influencing pricing, and money-saving tips for homeowners and businesses.
Security Camera Installation Cost: What You’ll Really Pay
If you’re thinking about adding cameras to your property, the first question is always the price. It can feel like a guessing game, but the cost breaks down into a few clear parts: the gear itself, the labour, and any extras like wiring or cloud storage. Knowing where each penny goes helps you compare quotes without getting lost in jargon.
Equipment – Cameras, Mounts, and Wiring
Camera models range from basic indoor units at £50‑£100 to high‑end outdoor boxes with night vision and PTZ (pan‑tilt‑zoom) that can hit £250‑£400 each. Add mounts and weather‑proof housings and you’re looking at another £20‑£60 per camera. If you choose a wired system, you’ll need cabling – typically £2‑£4 per metre in the UK – plus a power supply or PoE (Power over Ethernet) switch, which can add £100‑£200 for a small setup.
Wireless cameras eliminate the cable run but usually require a battery or solar kit. Those kits cost roughly £30‑£70 per camera and may need a repeat‑range extender if you have a big house, which costs about £80‑£120.
Labour – Who Does the Work and How Much Time It Takes
Professional installers charge anywhere from £50‑£80 per hour, depending on their experience and your location. A typical residential job with three to four cameras takes about 3‑4 hours, so labour usually lands in the £150‑£320 range. Larger commercial projects can double or triple that time, especially if you need trenching for cables or integration with existing alarm systems.
Some companies bundle equipment and labour into a single price, promising “all‑in‑one” deals from £300 for a basic kit up to £1,200 for a full‑featured system. Always ask what’s included – sometimes the bundle skips a necessary power supply or the cloud storage subscription.
Other costs to watch out for are permits (rare for most homes but common in listed buildings) and optional extras like video analytics, motion‑triggered alerts, or a 24/7 monitoring service. Monitoring plans usually start at £10‑£15 per month, but many customers prefer a one‑time “self‑monitor” setup to avoid ongoing fees.
So, what’s the average total? In the UK, a typical home installation of four wired cameras with basic night vision ends up between £600 and £900 all‑in. If you go wireless with a cloud subscription, expect £500‑£800. Commercial installs with ten or more cameras often start at £2,000 and can rise quickly based on complexity.
Want to save a few hundred pounds? Consider DIY for the simple wired cameras – the biggest expense is the labour, after all. Many retailers now ship kits with step‑by‑step guides, and a few weekend evenings of work can shave £200‑£300 off the price. Just make sure you follow local building codes and test the system thoroughly before you rely on it.
When you get quotes, ask these three quick questions: (1) Does the price include all cables, connectors, and mount hardware? (2) How many hours of labour are you estimating, and what’s the hourly rate? (3) Is there a warranty on the installation work and the equipment?
By breaking down the cost into gear, labour, and extras, you can compare offers side‑by‑side and pick the option that fits your budget and security needs. Whether you hire a pro or go DIY, you now know what to expect on the price tag and how to keep the spend under control.
