Getting the number of CCTV cameras right matters more than the brand on the box. Too few and you’ve got blind spots exactly where you need cover; too many and you’re paying for footage nobody watches. Here’s how to think about it for your premises.
Start with the points that matter
Good CCTV isn’t about watching everywhere — it’s about covering the places where things happen:
- Every entrance and exit — you want a clear face shot of everyone coming and going.
- The till or cash-handling area in retail and hospitality.
- Stockrooms, storage and high-value areas.
- Yards, loading bays and car parks — often where trouble starts, and where you need wide, weatherproof cameras.
- Blind corners that a single camera can’t see.
Rough starting points
Every site is different, but as a guide: a small shop or office often needs three to six cameras; a larger retail unit or a busy premises, six to ten; a warehouse or multi-area site, ten or more once you cover the perimeter and internal zones. The real number comes from walking the building, not a formula.
We’ll survey it with you
We walk your premises, mark the cover you actually need, and recommend the right cameras for each spot — indoor, outdoor, wide-angle — with no padding. See business CCTV or ask Bellcom for a survey.