A security camera system in the New York metro area usually costs between $1,200 and $3,500 installed for a typical house or apartment (2 to 4 cameras), and between $2,500 and $14,000 or more for a store, restaurant or office. The wide gap comes from the building, not the camera. Brick, plaster, flat roofs, shared basements, landlord approvals and long cable runs add more to a quote than the hardware does.
This guide gives you 2026 planning ranges for residential and commercial work, explains what moves the price, lists the costs people forget to ask about, and shows how to compare quotes fairly. The numbers are planning ranges for the New York metro area as of October 2026. They are not quotes. Revolvis prices every job after a site visit, because two addresses on the same block can cost very different amounts to wire.
Want a number for your property? Call Revolvis at 347-258-9165 for a custom quote after a site visit.
1. What Actually Drives the Price of a Camera Installation
Most people assume the price is cameras times a number. In practice an installed system has five cost layers.
Cameras. Resolution, lens type and low-light performance set the price of each unit. A basic 4-megapixel fixed camera costs far less than a 4K varifocal or PTZ (pan-tilt-zoom) camera.
Recorder and storage. Most professional systems use a network video recorder (NVR) with hard drives. More cameras, higher resolution and longer retention all mean more storage.
Cabling and power. Wired systems typically run one Ethernet cable per camera that carries both power and video (called PoE, power over Ethernet). Labor for these runs is the biggest variable in the whole job.
Labor and access. Drilling through brick, fishing cable through a finished wall, working from a ladder at height or on a flat roof, and carrying gear up a walk-up all take time.
Setup and handoff. Network configuration, phone app setup, remote viewing, motion zones and a walkthrough with the owner are part of a proper install, not extras.
When you compare two quotes, make sure both cover all five layers. A low price that leaves out recorder storage or cable runs is not a real low price.
2. Residential Planning Ranges (2026)
These ranges assume professionally installed wired PoE cameras with a local recorder, unless noted. Prices are for the New York metro area and include labor and standard materials.
| Residential project | Typical 2026 planning range (installed) | Typical install time |
|---|---|---|
| Video doorbell, labor only (device extra) | $150 to $350 | 1 to 2 hours |
| 2 cameras, wired, with recorder | $1,000 to $2,400 | Half day |
| 4 cameras, wired, with recorder | $1,500 to $3,500 | 1 day |
| 6 to 8 cameras, wired, with recorder | $2,500 to $6,000 | 1 to 2 days |
| Per camera, wired, all-in | $300 to $700 | Varies |
| Wireless or battery cameras, setup only | $100 to $300 per camera | 1 to 3 hours |
A small apartment with one front door camera and one indoor camera sits at the bottom of the range. A two-family house with front, rear, side and driveway coverage, plus a basement entrance, sits near the top. Houses on Staten Island and in Queens often need longer outdoor runs. Brooklyn brownstones and Manhattan co-ops often cost more per camera because of plaster, masonry and building rules, even when the camera count is small.
3. Commercial Planning Ranges (2026)
Commercial systems cost more mainly because they have more cameras, longer cable runs, higher retention needs and tighter uptime expectations.
| Commercial project | Typical 2026 planning range (installed) |
|---|---|
| Small storefront or office, 4 to 8 cameras | $2,500 to $7,500 |
| Restaurant or retail store, 8 to 16 cameras | $5,000 to $14,000 |
| Multi-unit building common areas, 8 to 16 cameras | $5,000 to $15,000 |
| Warehouse or lot, 16 to 32 cameras | $12,000 to $40,000 or more |
| License plate capture camera, per location | $1,500 to $4,500 |
| PTZ camera, each installed | $900 to $3,000 |
Businesses should also budget for retention. A shop that wants 30 days of footage on every camera needs a bigger recorder than a home that is happy with 7 to 14 days. If your insurer, landlord or lender asks for a specific retention period or camera coverage, tell the installer before the quote, not after.
4. The Costs People Forget to Ask About
Most disputes over camera pricing come from items that were never in the quote. Ask about each of these.
- Storage. Is the hard drive included, and how many days of footage does it hold at your resolution? Hard drives are a normal replacement item over the life of a system.
- Cabling through hard surfaces. Brick, block, plaster and steel conduit take longer. Ask whether the price assumes easy drywall or a worst-case run.
- Lift or ladder access. Second-story and flat-roof locations may need extra equipment and time.
- Network work. If your router, switch or internet service needs changes for remote viewing, that may be separate.
- Cloud or app subscriptions. Some brands lock features behind a monthly fee. Local recorders can often give you remote viewing with no monthly fee. See our guide on cloud subscriptions versus local storage.
- Landlord, board or building approvals. Co-ops, condos and landlords may need paperwork, insurance certificates or specific work hours.
- Warranty and service. Ask what is covered, for how long, and who comes out if a camera fails.
- Patching and cleanup. Wall repair and paint touch-up should be addressed up front.
5. Wired vs. Wireless: What It Does to the Price
Wireless cameras look cheaper because there is less cable to run. But "wireless" usually still needs power, and battery cameras need regular charging. Wi-Fi cameras share bandwidth with everything else on your network, and thick masonry walls weaken signals in many NYC buildings.
Wired PoE systems cost more to install but are generally more reliable because power and video travel on one cable with no battery to charge and no Wi-Fi to drop. For a business, or a home where the camera needs to work every night, wired is usually the better value over several years.
Wireless can still make sense in a rental apartment where drilling is not allowed, for a temporary location, or for a quick extra camera. If you want to compare, see our pages for wireless security camera installation in Brooklyn and home security camera installation in Staten Island.
6. Pricing by Property Type in the New York Metro Area
Houses and two-families (Staten Island, Queens, Brooklyn, Bronx, Long Island, NJ). Typically 4 to 8 cameras covering the front door, driveway, side passages, rear yard and basement entrance. Long outdoor runs, detached garages and large lots increase labor.
Brownstones and rowhouses. Fewer cameras, but harder wiring: plaster, brick, narrow chases and finished interiors. Plan on a higher per-camera price.
Co-ops and condos (Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens). The work inside a private unit is usually simple, but building rules can add time. Common areas belong to the board.
Storefronts, bodegas and delis. Usually 4 to 8 cameras focused on the door, register, aisles and back entrance. Cash handling and theft prevention drive the layout.
Restaurants. Dining room, bar, register, kitchen entrance, walk-in and rear door. Grease, heat and moisture mean the camera housings and placement matter.
Offices and professional spaces. Entrances, reception, hallways and server or supply rooms. Privacy rules mean cameras should not point into restrooms or other private areas.
Warehouses and lots. Larger camera counts, longer cable runs, higher mounting, and often a need for night performance across wide areas. Commercial customers can browse commercial security camera installation in Queens and business security camera installation in the Bronx.
7. How to Save Money Without Cutting Corners
You do not need the most expensive system, but some savings cost more later. Here is where it is safe to economize and where it is not.
Safe ways to save
- Cover the highest-risk spots first (doors, driveways, cash areas) and add cameras later on a system built to expand.
- Choose a recorder with a spare camera channel or two so you can grow without replacing it.
- Use fixed cameras where PTZ is not needed.
- Put cameras where a short cable run reaches the recorder.
- Schedule the install during the installer's normal working hours and bundle several locations in one visit.
Savings that backfire
- Buying the cheapest recorder and skipping surge protection or a battery backup.
- Skipping hard drive capacity, then finding the footage you need was overwritten.
- Choosing cameras with poor low-light performance for a dark alley or lot.
- Running cables outdoors without proper weather protection.
- Using equipment from vendors restricted under federal rules. If you work with government contracts or want to avoid supply chain issues, ask about NDAA-compliant equipment. The FCC maintains a Covered List of communications equipment and services that pose national security risks.
8. Rules, Privacy and What to Verify Before You Hire
Camera installation in New York and New Jersey touches privacy law, building rules and, in some cases, licensing. Here are the main things to check.
Where cameras can point. You can generally monitor your own property and entrances. Aiming a camera into a neighbor's windows or a private area can create legal trouble. Audio recording is more tightly regulated than video, so confirm the rules before enabling audio.
Building rules. Co-ops, condos and landlords may restrict drilling, exterior mounting or common-area cameras. Get approval in writing.
Insurance and credentials. Rules for electrical and low-voltage work differ by state and by the kind of system. Ask any installer for a certificate of insurance and for any credentials that apply to your job, in writing. New Jersey consumers can start with the NJ Division of Consumer Affairs and the New Jersey State Police, and New York consumers can review resources from the NY Department of State and the Federal Trade Commission on hiring contractors and avoiding scams.
Insurance and written scope. Ask for the scope, equipment list, warranty and payment schedule in writing before work starts.
9. How a Professional Install Works, Start to Finish
Every job is different, but a clean installation follows these steps.
- Free site visit. The installer walks the property, checks entry points, sightlines and lighting, and identifies where cable can run.
- Camera plan. You agree on camera locations, resolution and recorder size. Blind spots and glare are checked at this stage.
- Written quote. It lists equipment, labor, storage, warranty and anything billed separately.
- Cable and mounting. Cables are run, holes sealed and cameras mounted at the planned angles.
- Recorder and network setup. The NVR is configured, motion zones set, and remote viewing connected.
- Night and angle testing. Cameras are checked after dark to catch glare, reflections and dead zones.
- Walkthrough and handoff. You learn to find, export and share footage on your phone, and you get the login details.
10. Areas We Serve
Revolvis installs residential and commercial camera systems across the New York metro area.
- Staten Island. Security camera installation in Staten Island
- Brooklyn. Security camera installation in Brooklyn
- Queens. Security camera installation in Queens
- The Bronx. Security camera installation in the Bronx
- Manhattan. Security camera installation in Manhattan
- Long Island. Nassau County and Suffolk County
- New Jersey. Jersey City, Newark, Hoboken and nearby towns
See the full list on our service areas page.
11. Get a Custom Quote After a Site Visit
Revolvis quotes every job after a site visit, because the building, not the camera count, sets the price. To get a faster, more accurate quote, have this ready:
- The address and property type (house, apartment, co-op, storefront, warehouse)
- How many entrances, sides and areas you want covered
- Photos of the spaces and where you want cameras
- Whether you want remote viewing on your phone and how many days of footage to keep
- Any landlord, board or insurer requirements
Call 347-258-9165 or use the contact page to book a site visit.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to install security cameras in NYC? For a typical house or apartment with 2 to 4 wired cameras and a recorder, plan on roughly $1,200 to $3,500 installed. Stores, restaurants and offices commonly run from $2,500 to $14,000, and large warehouses can go well beyond that. The building and cable runs move the price as much as the cameras.
Is it cheaper to install security cameras myself? DIY can lower the upfront cost, especially for wireless or battery cameras in a rental. But hidden costs add up: drilling mistakes, weak Wi-Fi coverage, poor camera angles, footage overwritten by small storage, and no one to call if a camera fails. For wired systems and businesses, a professional install usually pays off.
Do I have to pay a monthly fee for security cameras? Not always. Many professionally installed systems record to a local NVR and offer remote viewing from your phone with no monthly fee. Some consumer brands require a subscription for cloud storage or advanced alerts, so ask what is included before you buy.
How much does a business security camera system cost? A small storefront or office with 4 to 8 cameras commonly falls between $2,500 and $7,500 installed. A restaurant or retail store with 8 to 16 cameras is often $5,000 to $14,000, and larger warehouses cost more. Retention time, camera quality and cabling all affect the quote.
Why do quotes for the same system vary so much? Differences usually come from what is included: hard drive size, cable type, labor for masonry or plaster, network setup, warranty and cleanup. Ask each installer for a written, itemized quote that lists equipment and labor separately so you can compare them fairly.
How long does a camera installation take? A video doorbell takes 1 to 2 hours. A 4-camera home system is usually done in a day. Larger homes and commercial sites can take 1 to 3 days or longer depending on the cabling and the number of cameras.
Ready for your 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, locks, lighting, alarms and good habits. If you are in danger or witnessing a crime, call 911. Pricing in this guide is a general planning range for the New York metro area, not an offer. A written quote after a site visit governs your actual price.