Update 2022: Home CCTV systems have come a long way in recent years and there’s lots of choice out there and on this page, we’ll cover the most popular options and provide a price guide.

Have you considered the following?

• Do you want internal or external cameras? Or both?
• Where do you want the footage stored and how long for? On a hard drive located on your property or in the cloud (online) where you can access it from any location?
• Do you want to receive notifications on your phone when movement is detected?
• Do you want the ability to speak through a microphone embedded in the camera?

In a Hurry?

Here is a rough guide to CCTV installation prices and monthly fees for online storage:

Our Advice

In our opinion, it’s essential that you choose a system that records in at least true high definition at 1080P, anything less such as 720P and you may find the images aren’t sharp enough to see important details clearly, such as faces.

Many manufacturers now produce ultra-sharp 4K ultra definition footage. This may sound like a good idea but is only practical if your hard drive is big enough or your online storage holds the footage for long enough. 4K footage takes up a lot of storage space, especially if you have several cameras.

Another specification to consider is the frame rate; this is the number of frames per second that’s recorded by the device.

The video below is a little old, but you can see how a low frame rate recording looks “choppy”. If the rate is too low, you’ll have fewer frames you can pause. Too many frames however and you’ll need even more storage capacity.

We feel that at a minimum, you should choose a system that records at 15 frames per second. For comparison; modern high-end CCTV systems record at 30 fps.

Cost to Install a Basic Wired CCTV System

A basic system usually consists of between four and eight internal and/or external cameras that you connect to a hard drive via cables.

The system is powered from the mains and typically comes with a 1TB hard drive, with this you should have enough storage capacity to record two weeks’ worth of footage. That’s just enough for you to go on holiday and record everything that happens at home.

Expect a basic entry-level system to cost £300 for four cameras and an additional £450 for professional installation should you require it.

A basic eight-camera system will set you back around £500 with an additional £650 for professional installation.

Mid-Range Wireless CCTV System Cost

Wireless CCTV systems have a crucial advantage over their wired versions – you have much more flexibility in where you can locate the camera and fewer unsightly wires around the home.

A 1080P wireless system with four cameras will set you back around £500 with installation an extra £400.

A similar system but with eight cameras will cost around £900 with installation an extra £600.

High-End CCTV Installation Cost

A high-end CCTV system will usually have some or all of the following additional features:

• Wifi connectivity to minimise the number of cables needed and make the installation simpler.
• Watch live footage via an app.
• Enables two-way communication to each camera so you can talk to someone in the home or at the front door.
• Full 1080P or 4K Ultra high definition with a reasonable frame rate, usually upwards of 20fps.
• Online storage so you can access the footage from any location. You also don’t need to worry about a hard drive being stolen or damaged in a fire.
• Night vision, this is so the footage is clear, even when it’s dark.
• Alerts and notifications to a mobile phone or email address.
• Facial recognition so you won’t get pestered by alerts when family members are in the home.
• Pet detection, this where the system detects a pet in the home and doesn’t send alerts to you.

There are several products on sale in this category, one of the most popular is Nest which is owned by the internet search giant Google:

Nest cameras are popular but expensive. Read reviews on Amazon here.

With this system, you can install up to ten cameras, each has its power cable, and they connect wirelessly via an app.

All captured footage is stored online for quick access so you’ll need a reliable internet connection, wifi connectivity and enough bandwidth.

You have several storage options; choose between 5-day, 10-day or 30-day storage for 24/7 recorded footage or choose “event storage” which is cheaper but only stores video clips from when movement is detected.

The issue with Nest is the storage price for 24/7 recorded footage. The cameras are competitively priced and easy to install, but the cost of online storage is considerable, especially of you have several cameras.

The following prices were sourced in April 2022:

Purchase cost each– £65 (reduced from the RRP of £125)

Installation fee (optional) – £120 per unit with discounts for multiple installations.

30 days online storage of “events” – 30 days storage of “events” recorded by the camera: £5 per month.

60 days online storage of “events” – 60 days storage of “events” and 10 days of 24/7 footage: £10 per month.

5 days of online storage for 24/7 footage from up to 3 cameras – £10 per month.

10 days of online storage for 24/7 footage from up to 3 cameras – £16 per month.

30 days of online storage for 24/7 footage from up to 3 cameras – £38 per month.

Our Thoughts on Nest

Nest cameras have lots of features, but the cost of online storage is high if you want more than “event” storage. The 10-day storage option is a little sneaky as many people choose to go on holiday for 14 days.

You can purchase Nest cameras without the storage option as the live footage is available via an app. You’ll have access to many other features, but you won’t be able to store the footage, for this, you’ll need a yearly or monthly storage plan.

Nest also produce other household electronics that can be linked together and accessed via their app; a “learning” thermostat, an alarm, a doorbell (released in 2018) and smoke alarms.

How To Save Money

High-end cameras such as Nest provide you with tons of features, but the caveat is the cost of online storage.

There are similar alternative options such as this two-camera kit from Blink that includes limited online storage. You can even upgrade to an £8 a month subscription for 30 days of clip storage.

Basic systems that record to a hard drive stored on your property are a great way to save money, you’ll pay an upfront fee for the cameras and equipment, but there are no ongoing monthly charges.

The best way to save money is to install the system yourself or if DIY isn’t your strong point, to get a family member or friend to do it for you. The work will involve drilling a few holes for the cables and screws that hold the cameras in place, but otherwise, the project is fairly simple and straightforward.

FAQs

Q) Do I Really Need 4k Ultra High Definition?

A) 4k Ultra HD will provide you with crystal clear footage and images but the framerate is just as important. Too low and the footage will look choppy and you may not have many frames to look at.

Q) Is Online Storage Worth the Extra Cost?

A) We think so. There are no hard drives at home for you to buy or maintain. With online storage, your footage is safe and secure and can be accessed from any device, anytime and anywhere but it isn’t cheap and is deleted after 5,10 or 30 days depending on you plan.

Q) Can a CCTV System Reduce My Home Insurance Premium?

A) Yes, some insurers offer discounts to customers that have a CCTV system installed. It’s unlikely, however, that the saving will offset the entire cost of the installation.

Get a Custom Price

If sourcing CCTV camera systems and installing them yourself isn’t your cup of tea, hit the button below to get a competitive quote:

This guide was written by Danny Woodley and was last updated in April 2022.

You may also be interested in Danny’s guide to home alarm costs.

Explore our full list of detailed price guides here.