How high should a porch camera sit?

Aim for 7–9 ft where possible — high enough to deter grab-and-go, low enough to read faces without extreme tilt.

Why do driveway plates look washed out?

Headlights and low sun create glare. Offset the camera slightly off the lane centerline and prefer HDR-capable models when claimed.

Indoor camera privacy tip?

Prefer a physical shutter and avoid pointing at bathrooms or shared walls with neighbors when FOV is ultra-wide.

Roughly 48 inches to the lens is a common starting point for faces and packages; confirm chime wiring first.

Lead magnet · Editorial

Camera Placement Cheat Sheet

Last updated: November 2, 2026 · Desk research, not a lab install log

Most bad camera buys start with bad placement. Use this sheet before you open a ranking or the catalog compare tool.

Porch / packages

Lens ~48″ for doorbells; cam 7–9′ for wall mounts when architecture allows
Angle down just enough to cover the mat — not the neighbor's living room
Check afternoon sun on the door; backlight kills faces more than resolution helps

Driveway / yard

Mount slightly off centerline to reduce headlight bloom
Mark the farthest plate-read distance you care about; buy for that job, not brochure meters
Floodlight cams: confirm fixture wiring before you assume “battery flood”

Indoor rooms

Prefer physical privacy shutters for bedrooms / shared spaces
Pan/tilt only if one fixed FOV cannot cover the doorway + desk
Keep cams off reflective TVs when night IR is on

Power + storage (placement adjacent)

Battery mounts need ladder access or solar — plan the recharge path
Local SD/NVR needs a retrieval plan; cloud needs a clear free-window expectation

Next steps

Run the camera kit checklist
Filter live SKUs in Camera compare
Open a hub: wireless, doorbells, or outdoor

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