Most New York homeowners pay between $1,200 and $3,500 for a professionally installed home security camera system with two to four cameras, and between $2,500 and $6,000 for larger homes with six to eight cameras. Apartments and renters often spend less, usually $150 to $1,500, because they need fewer cameras and often cannot drill.
The home itself matters as much as the camera count. A detached house in Staten Island with a driveway and back yard is a different job from a third-floor walk-up in the Bronx or a Brooklyn row house with plaster walls. This guide walks through home-specific costs for 2026. The figures are planning ranges for the New York metro area, not quotes.
1. The Short Answer by Home Type
| Home type | Typical cameras | Typical 2026 planning range (installed) |
|---|---|---|
| Apartment or condo (renter-friendly) | 1 to 2 | $150 to $1,200 |
| Co-op or condo with board rules | 2 to 3 | $900 to $2,400 |
| Attached row house or brownstone | 3 to 4 | $1,500 to $3,800 |
| Detached house with driveway | 4 to 6 | $1,800 to $4,500 |
| Two-family house | 4 to 8 | $2,000 to $5,500 |
| Large house or estate property | 8 to 12 | $4,500 to $10,000 |
The low end of each range uses wireless or simple wired cameras close to the recorder. The high end uses higher resolution, longer outdoor cable runs, masonry drilling or extra features such as license-plate capture.
2. What You Are Really Paying For
A home camera quote has five parts, and each one can hide a surprise.
The cameras. Most homes do well with 4-megapixel fixed cameras. Doorways with bright sun and shadow do better with wide dynamic range models. Driveways may need a varifocal camera that can be zoomed in to the right distance.
The recorder. A recorder keeps footage on a hard drive in your home. A small home system may need 1 to 4 terabytes. Cheap quotes sometimes include an undersized drive that overwrites footage within days.
The cable. Wired cameras usually run on one Ethernet cable each. A short run in an unfinished basement costs little. A long run through an old plaster wall costs much more.
Mounting and weatherproofing. Outdoor cameras need proper mounts, sealed connections and drip loops so water does not enter the cable. This is not where to economize.
Setup. A professional install includes network setup, phone app configuration, motion zones and a walkthrough. Ask whether all of that is in the price.
3. Where Homeowners Actually Put Cameras
In my own work across the five boroughs and Long Island, the same handful of spots account for most of the value:
- Front door and stoop. Captures anyone who approaches, including package thieves.
- Driveway and street-facing side. Shows vehicles and anyone checking car doors.
- Side passage or gate. A common entry point that nobody watches.
- Back door and yard. Where many burglars prefer to enter, because it is hidden from the street.
- Garage or basement entrance. Often overlooked and often weakly locked.
Interior cameras are optional. Many families add one in a main hallway or near a basement door, never in bedrooms or bathrooms. See our guide on camera privacy rules in New York and New Jersey for the limits.
4. A Real-World Pattern: Entry Through the Back and Side
Recent news reports show why these locations matter. In February 2026, NYPD said three young men tried to enter three South Shore Staten Island homes within about an hour in the early morning. In one of the homes they got in through a locked front window and left with a vehicle key fob, according to CBS New York. Police later released images and a video from a doorstep to help identify the suspects.
In Queens, police said in July 2026 that one suspect had burglarized four homes in Flushing, Oakland Gardens and Bayside, mostly in the evening, and released surveillance images of him and his SUV, according to QNS. The license plate was partly covered by a flag, which shows why camera angle and resolution matter.
These stories do not mean your home is a target. Citywide, the NYPD reported that burglary fell 19.5% in May 2026 compared with May 2025 (NYPD). What they show is that when something does happen, clear video is what police ask residents for.
5. Costs People Forget at Home
- Extra drilling through brick or plaster. Slows the job and raises labor.
- Attic or crawlspace access. Sometimes cable must go through tight spaces.
- Power for outdoor cameras. PoE solves this, but some setups need an outlet.
- Wi-Fi coverage. Wireless cameras need a strong signal at each location.
- Hard drive replacement. Drives wear out over several years.
- Cloud subscriptions. Some consumer brands charge monthly for features. Recorder-based systems often do not.
- Patching and paint. Ask whether cleanup is included.
6. Renters and Apartment Dwellers
If you rent, you may not be allowed to drill or run cable. Your lease and your landlord decide. Wireless or battery cameras, door-mounted cameras and video doorbells that attach to existing hardware often work without permanent changes. Always get written permission before installing anything on common areas or the building exterior.
7. DIY or Professional?
DIY kits can cost $200 to $800 for a few cameras. That is cheaper up front, but it leaves you responsible for mounting, aiming, networking and troubleshooting. Common DIY problems include weak Wi-Fi, poorly aimed cameras that miss faces, and footage that is too small to be useful. For a single-door apartment, DIY can be fine. For a house with multiple entry points, a professional install usually pays off.
8. How to Save Without Cutting Corners
- Start with the front door, driveway and back door, then add more later.
- Choose a recorder with spare channels for future cameras.
- Keep cable runs short by choosing camera locations near where the recorder will sit.
- Skip features you will not use, but do not skimp on storage.
9. What the Installation Day Looks Like
Homeowners often wonder how disruptive an installation will be. For a typical four-camera house, the day goes like this.
Morning: walk and mark. The installer walks the outside and inside with you, confirms every camera location, checks sight lines and picks where the recorder will live. This is the moment to say "move that one to the left" before any holes are drilled.
Midday: cable and mounting. Cable is run from each camera spot to the recorder, usually through an attic, basement or the cavity of an exterior wall. Outdoor holes are sealed. Cameras are mounted and aimed.
Afternoon: setup and testing. The recorder is configured, the phone app is connected, motion settings are adjusted and every camera is checked. If daylight is still available, the installer reviews glare and sun angles.
Evening: night check. For the best result, cameras should be looked at after dark. Porch lights, street lamps and reflective surfaces change the picture. Small adjustments here make a big difference.
Handoff. You should leave with login details, a short lesson on viewing and exporting video, and written warranty information.
You do not need to be home the entire day, but someone should be reachable to approve any change in plan.
10. Preparing Your Home Before the Installer Arrives
A few small steps can save time and money:
- Clear the areas where cameras and the recorder will go, such as a basement shelf or closet.
- Make sure there is a power outlet near the recorder and that your internet router is reachable.
- Tell the installer about pets, security systems, alarm sensors and any recent electrical or plumbing work in the walls.
- Gather the Wi-Fi name and password if you want phone viewing during setup.
- If you rent or live in a co-op or condo, bring written approval from your landlord or board.
11. Questions Homeowners Should Ask About Price
When a quote arrives, ask these questions before saying yes:
- How many days of footage will this store at this resolution?
- Are the cameras wired or wireless, and why did you choose that for my house?
- What happens if a camera stops working in year two?
- Are there any monthly fees now or later?
- What are you not including?
The answers will tell you more about the quality of the installer than the price alone.
Not sure where cameras belong on your house? Revolvis will walk the property with you and mark the spots.
More From Revolvis
Cameras are one layer of a secure property. The same in-house crew also handles the rest:
- Keyless entry installation and smart lock installation
- Access control systems and commercial access control
- Video doorbells and intercoms
- Alarm system installation
- Complete unified security
Learn more about Revolvis, meet the team, see all services, browse the blog or contact us.
Areas We Serve
Revolvis installs residential and commercial camera systems across the New York metro area. Every borough and county has its own building stock, rules and wiring challenges, so the plan for a Queens two-family is not the plan for a Manhattan co-op.
- Staten Island: houses, detached garages and shop fronts. See security camera installation in Staten Island.
- Brooklyn: brownstones, row houses and storefronts. See security camera installation in Brooklyn.
- Queens: attached brick homes, two-families and busy commercial strips. See security camera installation in Queens.
- The Bronx: pre-war buildings, bodegas and warehouses. See security camera installation in the Bronx.
- Manhattan: co-ops, condos, offices and retail. See security camera installation in Manhattan.
- Long Island: Nassau County and Suffolk County.
- New Jersey: Jersey City, Newark, Hoboken and nearby towns.
The full list is on the service areas page.
Get a Custom Quote After a Site Visit
Revolvis prices every job after a site visit, because the building sets the cost as much as the equipment does. A few things make the estimate faster and more accurate:
- The address and property type: house, apartment, co-op, condo, storefront or warehouse.
- Which doors, sides and areas you want covered, and what worries you most.
- Photos of those spots and any spots where you already have cabling or power.
- How many days of footage you want to keep and whether you want to watch on your phone.
- Any landlord, board, lender or insurer requirement.
Call 347-258-9165 or use the contact page to book a site visit. The quote you receive is written and itemized, so you can compare it line by line.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to install home security cameras in New York? Most homes with 2 to 4 cameras land between $1,200 and $3,500 installed. Larger homes with 6 to 8 cameras run $2,500 to $6,000. Apartments with one or two cameras often cost much less.
Do I need a recorder, or can I use cloud cameras only? Both work. Recorder-based systems keep video on a drive in your home and usually have no monthly fee. Cloud cameras are simpler to set up but often require a subscription for stored video.
How many cameras does a house need? Most houses are well covered with four: front door, driveway or street side, side passage and back door. Larger lots or detached garages need more.
Can a camera system lower my homeowners insurance? Some insurers offer discounts for monitored alarms or cameras, but it varies by company. Ask your insurer directly and keep your invoice and equipment list handy.
Will installation damage my walls? A careful installer drills small holes, seals them and patches where needed. Brick and plaster take more care. Ask about cleanup before work starts.
How long does a home installation take? Most four-camera home installs take a day. Bigger homes or complex wiring can take two.
Ready for a custom quote? Call Revolvis at 347-258-9165 for a site visit and a written, itemized estimate.
Safety note: A camera system supports, but does not replace, good locks, lighting, alarms and everyday habits. If you are in danger or witnessing a crime, call 911. Prices and legal summaries in this guide are general information for the New York metro area, not an offer or legal advice. A written quote after a site visit governs your actual price, and for legal questions you should confirm with the agencies linked in the article or a licensed attorney.