The Security Camera Placement Guide
To get started, try building your security plan by drawing a map of your home and yard. As your map takes shape and you decide which areas you'd like to view, include key features like:
- Large yards
- Pools and other water features
- Narrow alleys or dark, obscured areas
- Potential points of entry (such as front, back, and basement doors or first floor windows)
- Power availability
Create your security plan
Once you’ve figured out what areas you’d like to view using Ring security cameras, you may have a map that looks something like the one we’ve created below:
This will become the foundation of your security plan. You can now use this map to figure out where to place your security cameras in ways that fit the needs of that particular area. When you’ve finished, you should have a map that looks something like this:
Now that you have your map, consider how you’re going to power your cameras. Ring cameras are available in battery-powered, hardwired, plug-in, and solar-powered varieties to suit your unique situation.
Placement tips
Ring Security Cameras Models | Where to place a Ring Security Camera |
|---|---|
- Indoor use. - Ideal for small spaces to add convenient security. - Needs to be plugged into a power outlet. - Versatile mounting capabilities on flat surfaces, walls, corners, or ceilings. - Comes with a Privacy Cover to turn off audio and video with a simple swivel. | |
- Indoor and outdoor use. - Versatile mounting capabilities on flat surfaces, walls, corners, or ceilings. - Watch the side entrance of your property. - Ideal for small spaces that already have enough light. | |
- Outdoor use. - Cover your yard, dark corners or side yards with LED lights and siren. - Add some light to hard-to-see outdoor spaces.Place anywhere and adjust the viewing angle to cover blind spots. - Watch the side entrance of your property. - Light up the backside of your lawn. | |
- Outdoor use. - Replace the floodlight over your garage to clearly see your cars. - Cover your front yard with ultra-bright LEDs and a siren. - Watch the side entrance of your property. - Light up the backside of your lawn. - Designed to be used as a centerpiece of your security plan. |
Properly installing your security cameras
Now that you have created a map and security plan, it’s time to install your security cameras. To help you properly install your cameras remember to:
Make sure to place your cameras at the right height.
- Indoors:7 feet off of the ground (recommended).
- Outdoors:9 feet off of the ground (recommended).
Avoid mounting your cameras too low or too high.
Too high and your camera may not be at the right angle to catch people’s faces. Too low and they become vulnerable to tampering.
Test your angle using Live View.
Get a partner to help when putting up a camera while you watch Live View to ensure you can see people’s faces and that your camera isn’t facing a blind spot.
Make sure some of your cameras are visible.
Visible cameras make great deterrents against intruders – just make sure they’re not within reach and able to be tampered with.
Cover your driveway.
The front door is the most common place for criminals to break in. Place a camera over your driveway to catch them approaching the front door.
Make sure your wifi is as strong as possible.
Ring cameras work better the stronger and faster your wifi network is. Use network stretchers such as the Ring Chime Pro to make sure you have a clear and strong signal.
Think like a burglar—secure obvious points of entry and valuables.
The most common points of entry for a break-in are the following:
- Front door
- Back door
- Side doors or first floor windows out of sight of the street
- Garages
- Basements and basement staircases
- Second floor windows
Respect people’s privacy.
Don’t point your cameras into a neighbor’s window or yard.
Learn and obey local laws and ordinances.
You can check with your local municipality to learn about local regulations about recording audio and video at businesses or in public spaces. It is your responsibility to set up your Ring video recording devices in compliance with your local laws. Depending on where you live, there may also be Housing Association tenets to take into account. If you need additional setup help, see our Ring Device Installation Guides.