How much does security camera installation cost?

How much does security camera installation cost? Almost every business owner asks before they start, and they usually expect a price per camera. In practice, two systems with the same number of cameras can cost very different amounts. Cabling, mounting height, storage and the needs of the site often matter more than the cameras themselves.

In this guide we explain what the cost is made of, which factors push the price up or down, how to size the recorder's disks properly, what GDPR compliance requires and what typical systems look like for a shop, an office, a warehouse and a restaurant.

What the cost of a camera system is made of

• Cameras: their number, type, resolution and features.
• Recorder (NVR) and hard disks: how many channels you need and how much capacity for the retention period.
• Cabling and network equipment: network cables, trunking or conduit, a PoE switch, a rack or cabinet.
• Labour: mounting, running cables, adjusting angles, programming the NVR and the app.
• Remote access and network security: app setup, VLAN, VPN, user accounts.
• Compliance: signs, a notice text, privacy masks and retention settings.

Every quote for security camera installation should break these parts out separately. If all you see is a single package price, ask exactly what it includes.

Number and type of cameras

The right number of cameras comes from the points that genuinely need protecting, not from how many the recorder can take. One well-placed camera at the entrance often gives you more than three cameras watching the same corridor from different angles.

• Bullet: cylindrical, usually for outdoor areas and perimeter coverage. They are visible and also act as a deterrent.
• Dome and turret: for indoor areas and tills. Vandal-resistant domes (IK10) suit spots within arm's reach.
• Fisheye: a single ceiling camera covers a whole room, useful in small shops.
• Varifocal: with an adjustable lens, for when you need detail at a specific distance, such as a gate or a loading ramp.
• PTZ: pan, tilt and zoom, for large outdoor areas. They cost more and are not suitable for areas where staff work.
• Night vision: cameras with infrared give a black-and-white image at night, while colour night-vision cameras give more information but usually cost more.

Outdoor areas need a camera with suitable weatherproofing (e.g. IP67) and, near the sea, attention to materials and mounting.

Resolution: what you actually need

Higher resolution is not always the better choice. 4MP cameras are a good balance for most spots today, while 8MP (4K) cameras are worth it when one camera has to cover a large area or when you need identification at a distance. But every step up in resolution also means more data: bigger disks, more network bandwidth and a more powerful recorder.

More important than megapixels is what you want to see. To recognise a face at the entrance you need a camera close to the door, at head height, with the right lens. For a general view of a room, a lower resolution with a wider angle is enough. Choosing correctly for each spot keeps the cost sensible without losing information.

Cabling: often the biggest unknown

Modern IP cameras get power and send video over a single network cable, using PoE. That simplifies installation a lot, but cabling is still often the part of the cost that varies most.

• Distance: a network cable reaches up to about 100 metres from the switch. Over longer distances, such as in warehouses or along fences, you need an intermediate switch or fibre.
• Route: a suspended ceiling or empty conduits make the job quick. Concrete, stone and finished rooms without conduits need trunking or chasing.
• Outdoor points: cables rated for outdoor use, in conduit or trunking, with watertight entries.
• Existing cabling: if the site already has Cat5e or Cat6 network cables in the right places, they can be reused and cut the cost considerably. Old coaxial cables from analogue systems can only be reused with compromises.
• Wi-Fi cameras: they save on network cable but need power at every point and are less reliable for business use. We recommend them only for a few isolated spots.

NVR recorder, disks and retention

The NVR records the video from all the cameras. Its cost depends on the channels (how many cameras it supports), the disk bays and its features, such as AI video analytics. It is wise to leave room for one or two more cameras in future.

The disks should be surveillance-grade, designed for continuous recording around the clock. But capacity should not be sized to hold months of footage. Under the guidance of the Hellenic Data Protection Authority, footage is normally kept for up to 15 days, unless an incident is recorded, in which case that specific clip is kept as long as the case requires. So there is no need to pay for disks you are not allowed to fill.

How to calculate storage

The capacity you need depends on each camera's data rate (bitrate), the number of cameras and the number of days kept. The basic formula for continuous recording is:

Capacity (GB) = bitrate (Mbps) × 86,400 seconds × days × number of cameras ÷ 8 ÷ 1,000

For example, 8 cameras at 4 Mbps each, for 15 days: 4 × 86,400 × 15 × 8 ÷ 8 ÷ 1,000 ≈ 5,184 GB, or about 5.2 TB. Because a disk's usable capacity is a little lower than its nominal size, we always leave a small margin.

• The H.265 codec needs noticeably less space than the older H.264 for the same image.
• Recording on motion only greatly reduces space in quiet areas, such as a warehouse at night.
• Cameras in busy spots, such as a till, need a higher bitrate for a clear image.
• Bitrate is set on the camera. A good technician adjusts it for each spot instead of leaving the same setting everywhere.

To run the calculation for your own site quickly, use the NVR storage calculator in the Tools section of our website (csdynamics.gr/en/ergaleia/ypologismos-apothikeysis-nvr/). Enter the cameras, resolution and days and you see straight away how many TB you need.

Mounting height and awkward spots

Most cameras in shops and offices go at a height a ladder can reach. In warehouses with eight- or ten-metre ceilings, on the facades of multi-storey buildings or on fence posts, you often need a lift or scaffolding, which affects both time and cost.

Also, in buildings with several owners you may need permission to mount on the facade or to run cables through common areas. It is best to settle this before installation, so the plan does not have to change at the last minute.

Smart (AI) features and the app

Many modern cameras and recorders recognise people and vehicles, alert you when someone crosses a virtual line or enters a specific zone, and allow quick searching through footage. The practical benefit is fewer false alerts from wind, shadows or animals, and much faster finding of an incident.

These features add a little to the cost of cameras and the NVR, but they are often worth it outdoors and in warehouses. Remote viewing from your phone is now a basic requirement. It must be set up securely, though: cameras on a separate VLAN, strong passwords, up-to-date firmware and access through a VPN or the manufacturer's secure app. As an IT and networking company, this is something we take care of on every installation.

Example configurations by type of site

The examples below are indicative, to give you an idea. Every site is different and the final solution comes from a site survey.

• Small retail shop: a few indoor cameras, with one at the entrance at a height that captures faces clearly, one above the till and coverage of the aisles with the most valuable products. A small NVR, usually with cabling through the suspended ceiling, and phone access for the owner.
• Office: cameras at the entrance, reception and rooms with equipment or files, not at desks. Often combined with access control on the door and with the office's existing rack and network.
• Warehouse or logistics centre: outdoor cameras on the perimeter, loading ramps and gates, with varifocal lenses and person or vehicle detection. Long cable runs, high ceilings and often a lift. Here the cost is driven more by cabling and height than by the number of cameras.
• Restaurant or café: cameras at the entrance, the till, the terrace and the back delivery door. The kitchen and staff areas need particular care because of GDPR. Cameras that withstand humidity and grease, and good night vision for the hours the place is closed.

Before asking for a quote, walk around your premises and mark on a floor plan or photo the spots that genuinely worry you: entrances, till, storeroom, back door. That is the most useful material for a technician and keeps the system the size you need.

The cost of GDPR compliance

Compliance is not a big expense, but it must be planned from the start. The essentials are:

• A clearly visible sign before entering each recorded area, with the business details and the purpose of recording.
• A fuller notice text, available in the shop or on your website.
• Written notice to employees before the system goes live. Cameras must not be used to monitor staff performance.
• No cameras in toilets, changing rooms or staff rest areas, and no audio recording.
• Privacy masks over the street, pavement and neighbouring properties, beyond what is strictly necessary.
• Automatic deletion of footage after 15 days at most, set on the NVR from day one.
• In apartment buildings, a decision of the owners' general assembly for cameras in common areas.

We are not lawyers. For your specific case, consult your legal adviser or the guidance of the Hellenic Data Protection Authority at dpa.gr. You will also find more in our article on security cameras and GDPR.

Hidden costs and how to compare quotes

When comparing quotes for security camera installation, check whether the following are included, because they are often missing from the cheapest ones:

• Hard disks: are they included, and what capacity?
• A PoE switch, rack or cabinet for the NVR.
• Trunking, conduit and materials for finished rooms, not just cable.
• A UPS, so the system keeps recording through short power cuts.
• Setting up the app, user accounts and secure remote access.
• Signs, plus configuration of privacy masks and retention.
• A lift or scaffolding for high points.
• Training: how to find and export a clip when you need it.

How much does security camera installation cost at your site: getting an accurate quote

The surest way to find out how much security camera installation costs at your own premises is a site survey. In Attica the site survey is free. For simple sites we can also give a free estimate from photos, if you send us:

1. A floor plan or sketch of the premises with the spots you want covered.
2. Photos of each spot and of the ceiling, so we can see whether there is a suspended ceiling.
3. Where the site's rack or router is and whether network cables are already in place.
4. Whether you want phone viewing, alerts or a link to an alarm.
5. Your opening hours, so we can schedule the work without interrupting your business.

Security camera installation with CyberSpace Dynamics

CyberSpace Dynamics is a licensed security-systems installer and designs and installs systems with IP cameras, NVRs and PoE across Attica, using equipment from manufacturers such as Hikvision and Dahua. Because we are also an IT and networking company, we take care of cabling, network security and remote access from the start, and configure the system in line with GDPR requirements.

Call us on (+30) 211 003 0854 or email info@csdynamics.gr for a free site survey or an estimate from photos. We will tell you exactly what your premises need, without cameras and disks you will never use.