Where to Place Security Cameras: Entry Points First
Put cameras on entry points first: front door, back door, side or garage door, then the driveway. Mount outdoor cameras about 7 to 10 feet high, angled slightly down, so they catch faces and are hard to reach: Ring suggests about 9 feet, Arlo at least 7 feet, Reolink 2 to 3 meters. Avoid aiming at the sun or glass.
Figures researched 2026-10-01; each source below carries its access date. Prices change; treat any price here as "as of" its date.
Which spots should get a camera first?
Cover the ways into the house before anything else. Ring's placement guide tells owners to cover all entry points: front doors, back doors, side gates and garage entries. Burglary research points the same way. Arizona State University's Center for Problem-Oriented Policing guide on burglary of single-family houses finds that unsecured windows and doors, including sliding glass doors, are common entry points, that about one-third of burglars enter through unlocked or open windows and doors (especially basement windows and garage doors), and that houses easily entered through side or back doors are more exposed.
In priority order:
| Priority | Location | What the camera should capture |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Front door | Faces of anyone at the door, plus packages on the step |
| 2 | Back door or patio slider | The door itself and the approach from the yard |
| 3 | Side door, side gate or garage door | The path in from the side or the alley |
| 4 | Driveway | Vehicles and plates, people walking up |
| 5 | Inside, on the main path | Anyone who gets past the perimeter |
The same guide notes that trees, dense shrubs, privacy fences and projecting garages give burglars cover near doors and windows. Those hidden doors are where a camera covers what neighbors and passers-by cannot see. Why burglars pick the houses they do is covered in how burglars choose houses, and turning this priority list into a total is in how many security cameras do I need.
How high should a security camera be mounted?
High enough that nobody can reach it or knock it aside, low enough to still see a face. The makers' own install guides land in the same range:
| Maker and device | Recommended height | Other published guidance |
|---|---|---|
| Ring Video Doorbell | About 48 inches (4 feet) | Ring placement guide |
| Ring Stick Up Cam (outdoor) | About 9 feet | Works at eye level, but higher works better |
| Ring Stick Up Cam (indoor) | 5 to 8 feet | Do not mount directly across from a window |
| Arlo cameras | At least 7 feet (2 meters) | Angle slightly downward; best motion detection 5 to 20 feet from the camera |
| Reolink cameras | 2 to 3 meters (about 7 to 10 feet) | Ideal viewing distance 2 to 10 meters for recognizing people; do not point straight down |
Two details from these pages change where you put a camera on the wall:
- Arlo states its motion sensor is more sensitive to side-to-side movement across its view than to movement straight toward or away from the camera. So aim a path camera across the walkway, not straight down it.
- Reolink's 2 to 10 meter recognition distance means a camera at the far end of a long yard will record motion but may not show a usable face. For a long driveway, see driveway security cameras, which covers zoom and long-range models.
What placement mistakes ruin the footage?
| Mistake | What happens | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Facing the sun, bright lamps or reflective metal | Glare blinds the camera at the worst hours | Ring and Reolink install guidance |
| Pointing out through a window | Night-vision infrared reflects off the glass | Reolink: do not install facing glass or a mirror |
| Mounting at eye level on an exposed wall | Easy to reach, cover or steal | Ring and Arlo height guidance |
| Deep shadow across part of the view | The camera can misread it and restrict detection | Ring Stick Up Cam guide |
| Aiming straight down a path | Motion toward the camera is detected less readily than motion across it | Arlo motion guidance |
| Covering a neighbor's yard or windows | Privacy complaints, and possibly legal limits | Ring recommends privacy zones |
On that last row: Ring's guide recommends angling cameras toward your own property and using privacy zones to exclude neighboring areas. Recording audio raises separate legal questions, because some states require every party's consent; check before leaving a camera's microphone on, and see security camera audio recording laws for state rules.
Once placement is settled, the remaining choice is where the footage goes. Cameras that record locally with no monthly fee are compared in no-subscription security cameras.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the best height for an outdoor security camera?
- Makers recommend roughly 7 to 10 feet. Ring suggests about 9 feet for its outdoor Stick Up Cam, Arlo says at least 7 feet, and Reolink says 2 to 3 meters. Video doorbells are the exception: Ring recommends about 48 inches.
- Should a security camera face the door or the street?
- Face the door and its approach. A camera aimed at the street records traffic but rarely a usable face. Reolink puts its ideal distance for recognizing people at 2 to 10 meters, so keep the door inside that range.
- Can I put a security camera behind a window?
- It usually works poorly at night. Reolink's install tips say not to install a camera facing glass, and at night the camera's infrared light bounces off the pane. Ring also warns against mounting an indoor camera directly across from a window because of sun glare.
- Where should I not put security cameras?
- Avoid aiming into the sun or bright lights, through glass, or at a neighbor's windows or yard. Inside, many people keep cameras out of bedrooms and bathrooms; use privacy zones in the app to block areas you do not want recorded.
Sources
- Ring placement guide: Video Doorbell about 48 inches above ground; outdoor cameras at 9 feet; cover all entry points (front doors, back doors, side gates, garage entries); angle cameras toward your property and use privacy zones to exclude neighboring areas: https://blog.ring.com/home-security/ring-device-placement-tips/ (accessed 2026-10-01)
- Ring Stick Up Cam: works at eye level, better at about 9 feet outdoors or 5-8 feet indoors; watch for bright sources such as reflective metal or setting sun; do not mount indoors directly across from a window; deep shadow may confuse the camera and restrict detection area: https://ring.com/support/articles/jxd78/Proper-Positioning-for-Your-Stick-Up-Cam-2nd-Gen-Wired (accessed 2026-10-01)
- Arlo: mount at least 7 feet (2 meters) high, angle slightly downward; best motion detection area 5 to 20 feet; sensor more sensitive to side-to-side movement than movement toward or away from the camera: https://www.arlo.com/en_gb/support/faq/arlo-app-and-automations/how-do-i-optimize-motion-detection-for-my-arlo-camera (accessed 2026-10-01)
- Reolink installation tips: suggested mounting height 2-3 meters; do not let the camera look vertically to the ground; do not face bright lights including sunshine; do not face a mirror or glass; ideal viewing distance 2-10 meters for recognizing people: https://support.reolink.com/articles/360006379253-Reolink-Camera-Installation-Tips/ (accessed 2026-10-01)
- POP Center, Burglary of Single-Family Houses: unsecured windows and doors including sliding glass doors are common entry points; about one-third enter through unlocked or open windows and doors, especially basement windows and garage doors; houses easily entered through side or back doors; cover includes trees, dense shrubs, privacy fences and projecting garages: https://popcenter.asu.edu/content/burglary-single-family-houses-0 (accessed 2026-10-01)
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