How Many CCTV Cameras Does Your Shop or Office Need?

There's no fixed "cameras per square foot" formula that actually works, no matter how often it gets quoted. The right number depends on your risk points, not your floor area. Here's how we actually work it out on-site.

Start with entries and exits, not corners

Every door in and out of the space gets a camera, full stop — that's non-negotiable for both security and liability reasons. This is the baseline before anything else gets added.

Then map where value or risk concentrates

• Retail: till points, high-value shelving, fitting rooms (corridor only, never inside), stockroom access
• Offices: reception, server room door, any area with cash or sensitive documents
• Warehouses: loading bays, high-value SKU zones, exterior perimeter

A rough starting range

Treat these as starting points for a conversation, not a quote. A single oddly-shaped room can need more cameras than a larger, simpler one.

Where people overspend

The most common mistake we see is cameras added purely for a feeling of coverage — pointed down empty corridors or covering the same angle from two positions — while an actual blind spot near a till or stockroom door goes uncovered. A proper coverage walk-through catches this before installation, not after a loss happens.

Indoor vs outdoor, and night coverage

Outdoor and entry-facing cameras need weatherproof housings and decent night vision as standard — not an upgrade option. Indoor cameras covering till points benefit from higher resolution, since you often need to read faces or card details clearly, not just confirm someone was present.