Camera planner
Plan a home CCTV setup. See the coverage on a 2D floor plan or in 3D on your own wall. Set a budget and mix camera types to get an approximate cost.
1Which camera goes where?
Dome
Round and low-profile, fixed to a ceiling. Hard to tell where it is pointing.
IndoorLiving room, foyer
IndoorLiving room, foyer
Bullet
Long tube that sees far in a narrow strip. Easy to spot, which puts people off.
OutdoorBalcony, outer wall
OutdoorBalcony, outer wall
Turret
Small ball-shaped camera with a wide view, mounted on a wall or ceiling.
IndoorDoor, corridor
IndoorDoor, corridor
Indoor camera
Small cube that sits on a shelf or table, or hangs on a wall. Many models turn to follow movement.
IndoorRooms, nurseryNot priced here
IndoorRooms, nurseryNot priced here
PTZ (Pan-Tilt-Zoom)
A motor turns it left and right, tips it up and down, and zooms in. You steer it from a phone, or it follows movement by itself. One PTZ can watch a big area. PTZ can also be a feature of other cameras: many dome and indoor models have pan-tilt, and some have zoom, built in.
Big areasCosts moreNot priced here
Big areasCosts moreNot priced here
2How does the picture reach the recorder?
DVR: the "one cable per camera" way
Cameracable
→DVR box
saves the video→TV or phone
Lower costGood picture (2 MP)Up to 4 cameras here→DVR box
saves the video→TV or phone
NVR: the "home internet" way
Cameranetwork cable
(also powers it)
→Network box
(PoE switch)→NVR box
saves the video→TV or phone
Costs moreSharper picture (4 MP)Up to 7 cameras here(also powers it)
→Network box
(PoE switch)→NVR box
saves the video→TV or phone
Quick rule: tight budget, a few cameras → DVR. Sharper picture and room to add more later → NVR.
3How does the camera get power and connect?
Wired cable
A cable runs from each camera to the recorder.
Very steadyCable must be laid
Very steadyCable must be laid
PoE cable
One network cable carries the picture and the power.
Neat, one cable
Neat, one cable
WiFi camera
Sends the picture through your WiFi, but still needs a power socket nearby.
Weak signal = patchy video
Weak signal = patchy video
Battery camera
No wires at all. You recharge it, and it often saves short clips instead of recording non-stop.
Easy to place
Easy to place
This planner has prices for wired and WiFi cameras. Battery cameras are not priced here; you can type your own price under "Edit price list" if you need to.
4Words you will see in the form
MP (megapixels)
How sharp the picture is. More MP shows faces and details more clearly.
IR / night vision
Invisible lights let the camera see in the dark. The picture turns black and white.
Audio
A built-in microphone, so the camera records sound too.
Channel
One camera socket on the recorder. A 4-channel DVR takes 4 cameras.
HDD / SSD
The memory that stores recordings. More space keeps more days of video.
PoE switch
A box that hands out network cables and power to the cameras.
Cable run
The length of cable from the recorder to the camera.
Junction box and conduit
A small box that protects cable joints, and a pipe that protects the cable.
PTZ
Pan-Tilt-Zoom: a motor that turns, tips and zooms the camera. Some dome and indoor cameras offer it as a feature.
Indoor / outdoor
Outdoor cameras are built for rain and dust. In the 2D plan, bullets count as outdoor.
Visualize
Cost Estimation
Three quick steps: set a budget, choose a system, add cameras. You can mix wired and WiFi cameras. Your total updates as you go.
1. Your budget
2. Your system
3. Add cameras
Wired cameras
WiFi cameras
Cabling (optional)
Your estimate
₹0
Check certification before buying: the NVR prices are for Hikvision models. India requires new internet-connected cameras and recorders to be STQC-certified, so confirm the exact models are certified before you order. More on STQC