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Home Control Notes · Home Security & Surveillance cost guide
What a home security and surveillance system costs to install and to keep
Professionally installed security cameras average $1,289 in 2026, with most projects between $589 and $2,040, according to HomeAdvisor. Labor runs $80 to $200 per camera and makes up half or more of the bill. Monitoring ($30 to $60 a month per SoFi) and cloud video plans come on top, and over ten years they often exceed the installation.
Security systems are sold on the installation price and paid for through the monthly bill. A package that looks inexpensive on day one can cost several times more over a decade once monitoring and cloud video plans are added, while a system with a local recorder and self-monitoring can run with no monthly fees at all. Neither is wrong, but the comparison only makes sense when both parts are priced together.
This page covers cost only: per-device ranges, system tiers, add-ons, the labor share, how timing affects cost, what to cut first and sample budgets. The cost table and calculator on this page carry the line items; the sections below explain how they add up and how the recurring costs change the picture.
| Item | Low | High | Unit | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Video doorbell, installed | $100 | $300 | per unit | HomeAdvisor 2026; a transformer upgrade adds to this |
| Smart lock, installed | $200 | $550 | per lock | |
| Wired IP camera, installed | $100 | $500 | per camera | HomeAdvisor 2026, includes cable run |
| Wireless IP camera, installed | $100 | $250 | per camera | HomeAdvisor 2026 |
| Network video recorder | $150 | $500 | flat | HomeAdvisor 2026 |
| Door/window and motion sensors | $20 | $60 | per sensor | |
| Professional monitoring | $30 | $60 | per month | SoFi 2025 |
| Camera installation, typical project | $589 | $2,040 | flat | HomeAdvisor 2026, average $1,289 |
| Full security subsystem | $500 | $5,000 | flat | Today's Homeowner, January 2023 prices |
What do cameras, doorbells, locks and sensors cost per device?
HomeAdvisor's June 2026 guide puts the average camera installation at $1,289, and its per-camera prices, collected in the table in this section, explain most of the spread. Wired cameras powered over Ethernet cost more to install than battery cameras because each needs a cable run, but they record continuously and never need charging. Battery cameras cost less to mount and more to live with. Video doorbells are the most common starting point, owned by 20% of internet households per Parks Associates, and may need a transformer upgrade if the old doorbell wiring cannot power them.
Smart locks are a smaller line but a common add-on. Parks Associates found 11% of internet households have a smart lock, so most installations add the first one to a home, and door alignment can add labor if the bolt binds. Door and window sensors and motion detectors are inexpensive per unit and add up with count. The cost table on this page carries lock and sensor ranges.
| Device (installed) | Cost per unit | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Bullet camera | $100–$250 | HomeAdvisor 2026 |
| Dome camera | $100–$270 | HomeAdvisor 2026 |
| Floodlight or spotlight camera | $250–$600 | HomeAdvisor 2026 |
| Video doorbell camera | $100–$300 | HomeAdvisor 2026 |
| Wired IP camera, with cable run | $100–$500 | HomeAdvisor 2026 |
| Wireless IP camera | $100–$250 | HomeAdvisor 2026 |
| Network video recorder | $150–$500 | HomeAdvisor 2026 |
How do system tiers and monitoring choices change the total?
The entry tier is a doorbell, a lock and one or two battery cameras on a consumer platform with self-monitoring. The middle tier adds wired cameras, a recorder, sensors on entry doors and a battery backup. The top tier adds professional monitoring, more cameras, glass-break and environmental sensors, and integration with lighting and locks. Each step up adds equipment and labor, and the top tier adds the largest recurring cost.
SoFi's 2025 range for professional monitoring is $30–$60/mo. Over ten years that becomes a sum comparable to or larger than the installation itself. Insurers can offset part of it: SmartFinancial reports carrier discounts of 5–13%, and Nationwide offers up to 10% on qualifying coverage. The largest discounts usually require monitoring, so price the discount against the monitoring fee.
Which add-ons and recurring fees change the long-term cost?
Cloud video plans are the add-on most often underestimated, because they are priced per camera or per household each month and tend to rise over time. A local recorder with surveillance drives and a battery backup has an upfront cost and no monthly fee. The local versus cloud storage comparison works through the ten-year numbers. Many households combine them: local continuous recording plus cloud clips from the front door.
Other add-ons include water leak sensors with an automatic shutoff valve, which a LexisNexis Risk Solutions study linked to a 96% drop in water-damage claims, smoke and carbon monoxide integration, garage door control, floodlight cameras and a network segment for cameras. Alarm registration fees apply in some cities, and false-alarm fines apply in many, so add them to the recurring column.
How much of a security quote is labor?
Labor scales with wired cameras. HomeAdvisor's 2026 figure is $80–$200 per camera, or $50 to $100 an hour, and it accounts for 50% to 70% of a typical camera job. Each Ethernet run needs a path from the camera location to the recorder or switch, and exterior runs through soffits, attics and siding take time. Battery cameras, sensors and locks are quick to install, so a system built from them has a low labor share, while a six-camera wired system can be mostly labor.
Setup time is labor too: configuring motion zones, privacy masks, recording schedules, user codes on locks, alert rules and the separate network segment. Ask bidders to itemize physical installation and configuration separately. A cheap installation that leaves default passwords, alert floods and cameras on the main network costs more later in troubleshooting and risk.
How does timing affect the cost of security work?
Wired cameras are cheapest to install during new construction or a remodel, when cable can be run before siding, soffits or drywall close. An exterior renovation or a roof replacement is a good moment to pull camera cable. A move is another natural time: Parks Associates found >50% of households planning a move intend to buy a smart lock, and installing locks, doorbell and cameras before moving in avoids working around furniture and schedules.
Seasonal timing matters for exterior work. Attic cable runs in southern summers and exterior mounting in northern winters are slower and sometimes priced higher. Promotions from monitoring companies often subsidize equipment in exchange for a long contract; compare the total contract cost with buying equipment outright before accepting. Ask what happens to the equipment and the fee if you move before the term ends.
What to cut first, and three sample security budgets
Cut camera count before camera quality, and cloud subscriptions before local recording. Cover entries, the driveway and the most vulnerable side first; cameras aimed at low-risk areas add cost and alerts without adding much protection. Keep the recorder's battery backup and network segmentation. Consider self-monitoring for the first year and add professional monitoring if alerts prove hard to manage.
A starter budget covers a doorbell, a smart lock and two battery cameras with self-monitoring. A mid budget adds four wired cameras, a recorder, entry sensors and a battery backup; for scale, Reolink, a camera maker, puts a three- to four-camera outdoor system at about $1,000 installed and an eight-camera system at $3,000 to $4,000. A full budget adds monitoring, more cameras, leak and smoke integration and links to lighting. Use the calculator to position your plan, the security service page for placement, and the estimate request page to price it.
By the numbers
Home Security & Surveillance: the numbers
Planning figures from published U.S. sources; every card links to where the number came from.
$1,289
average cost to install security cameras, typical range $589–$2,040 (HomeAdvisor, 2026)
HomeAdvisor's June 2026 guide reports basic installations from about $125 and high-end systems above $3,500. Installed cost by type runs $100–$250 for a bullet camera, $100–$270 for a dome, $250–$600 for a floodlight camera and $100–$300 for a doorbell camera.
HomeAdvisor, Security Camera Installation Cost (2026)$80–$200 per camera
security camera installation labor, or $50–$100 an hour (HomeAdvisor, 2026)
HomeAdvisor's June 2026 guide says labor makes up 50% to 70% of a camera installation. Wired IP cameras run $100–$500 each installed against $100–$250 for wireless IP cameras, because of the cable runs.
HomeAdvisor, Security Camera Installation Cost (2026)$30–$60/mo
typical cost of professional security monitoring
SoFi's cost guide pegs monitoring at $30–$60 monthly and general smart home subscriptions at $10–$50, recurring costs homeowners should budget alongside hardware.
SoFi, How Much Do Smart Homes Cost (2025)20%
of U.S. internet households own a video doorbell (2025)
One in five connected households has a video doorbell, making it the most common entry point into home security automation. Installers regularly find the existing transformer too weak to power one.
Parks Associates press release (PR Newswire) (2025)Estimate your own home security & surveillance budget
The calculator uses the same smart home automation benchmarks as this guide. Set the size and tier, then request a written estimate to check it against a real proposal.
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Home Security & Surveillance cost questions
What is the ten-year cost of professional monitoring?
At SoFi's 2025 range of $30 to $60 a month, monitoring over ten years adds up to several thousand dollars before any price increases. Compare that with the insurance discount it unlocks and with self-monitoring. Households that travel often or have older members frequently find monitoring worth it; others keep it only for the first year.
Are equipment-free monitoring contracts a good deal?
They can be, if you would buy monitoring anyway. The equipment cost is recovered through a multi-year contract, sometimes at a higher monthly rate, and early cancellation may require paying off the balance. Compare the total contract cost with buying equipment outright and choosing monitoring separately, and check who owns the equipment when the contract ends.
Does a smart lock need professional installation?
Many retrofit locks install in under an hour with a screwdriver, and most homeowners can do it. Professional installation helps when the door is misaligned, the bolt binds or the lock replaces a mortise set or unusual hardware. A binding bolt drains batteries quickly, so fixing alignment may cost more than installing the lock itself.
How much does it cost to add cameras to an existing system?
Adding a wired camera to a system with a recorder and switch mainly costs the camera and the cable run; if the recorder is at capacity, it may need an upgrade. Adding a battery camera costs the camera and possibly another cloud plan. Ask the installer to size the recorder and switch for future cameras in the first installation.
Do insurance discounts cover the cost of a security system?
Rarely on their own. SmartFinancial reports discounts of 5% to 13% and Nationwide up to 10% on qualifying coverage, which offsets part of the monthly cost. The largest discounts usually require professional monitoring and proof of installation. Call your insurer before buying to confirm which devices and certificates qualify.
What does a camera network segment cost to set up?
Often very little if the router or access points already support a separate network, since it is mostly configuration time. If the network needs new equipment to support segmentation, that cost belongs in the network upgrade line. Either way, it is one of the cheapest security measures available and should appear in every camera proposal.
Can I avoid all monthly fees with a security system?
Yes. A system with a local recorder, self-monitoring, locks that store codes on the device and sensors on a local hub can run with no subscriptions. You give up professional dispatch and off-site copies of footage. Many households accept that trade, or add a low-cost cloud plan for one or two key cameras.
Other cost guides
Whole-Home Automation · Cost guideHow much does whole-home automation cost in 2026?Whole-home automation in 2026 ranges from Angi's $771 average for a consumer starter system to HomeGuide's $2,000 to $15,000 or more for hub-based and dealer-integrated projects.
Smart Lighting Control · Cost guideWhat smart lighting control costs, switch by switch and room by roomToday's Homeowner puts fully automated whole-home lighting at $1,000 to $5,000, with electrician labor at $80 to $100 an hour.
Home Theater & Audio · Cost guideWhat home theater and multi-room audio cost in 2026A basic installed 5.1 home theater costs $2,092 to $3,237 according to Homewyse's September 2026 figures, and a fully equipped living room runs $2,000 to $4,000.
Read the full service guide
Service guideHome Security & SurveillanceHome security and surveillance covers cameras, door and window sensors, motion detection, video doorbells and smart locks, with or without a monitoring service.
- Service guideWhole-Home Automation
Whole-home automation connects lighting, climate, locks, cameras, shades and audio under one interface with scenes and schedules.
- Service guideSmart Lighting Control
Smart lighting control replaces switches and dimmers, or adds keypads and schedules, so rooms respond to scenes, timers and occupancy while the wall switch keeps working.
Free planning tools
Free toolSmart home cost calculator: size a budget by control pointsSize, material tier and complexity in, a realistic budget range out.
Free toolSmart home comparisons: the five decisions that shape the projectSide-by-side tables for the decisions that change the price most.
Free toolSmart home readiness quiz: do you know the details installers will ask about?10 questions that show what you already know and what to check next.
Free toolSmart home polls: how other homeowners weighed the same decisionsSee what other planners chose and add your vote.
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