How high should I mount an outdoor security camera?

Mount cameras 8 to 10 feet above the ground, angled slightly downward. That height keeps the camera out of easy reach so it cannot be tampered with or blinded, while still capturing a recognizable face rather than the top of a head. Going higher than about 10 feet trades face detail for a wider overview, which is fine for a driveway but poor for identifying a person at the door. Under a soffit or eave at that height also shelters the camera from direct rain and sun, extending its life.

Where are the best places to point outdoor cameras?

Cover entry points first: the front door, back door, driveway, and any dark side yard or basement access. Angle cameras across your own property and walkways, not into a neighbor's windows or their yard. Overlap fields of view so each camera can see the base of another, eliminating blind spots where someone could approach unseen. A camera at the front should frame the porch and the path to it; a driveway camera should catch license plates at a lower, flatter angle than a face-capture camera.

Is it legal to point a security camera at my neighbor's property?

You can record your own property and public areas like the street, but pointing a camera into a neighbor's windows, fenced yard or other space where they have a reasonable expectation of privacy can violate privacy laws and local ordinances, and rules vary significantly by state and city. Audio recording adds another layer, since many states require consent to record conversations. The safe practice is to aim cameras at your own doors, driveway and yard, use privacy-zone masking to black out a neighbor's windows, and check your local laws.

How do I hide the cables on an outdoor camera?

For a wired camera, drill a downward-sloping hole through the eave or soffit directly behind the mount and route the cable into the attic, then to your recorder or power source. Leave a drip loop so water runs off before the wall penetration, and seal the hole with exterior silicone. Where you cannot go through the wall, run cable inside paintable exterior conduit or raceway along the trim. For battery or Wi-Fi cameras there is no cable to hide, which is why they mount in minutes anywhere.

Should I mount cameras on the wall or under the eaves?

Under the eaves or soffit is usually better. It shelters the camera from rain, snow and direct sun that cause glare and premature failure, gives a natural downward angle, and puts the camera high enough to resist tampering. Wall mounting is fine where there is no suitable overhang, but add the small angled wedge many cameras include to tip the lens down toward the target, and consider a small hood or the camera's built-in visor to cut sun glare and reduce rain on the lens.

How to Mount Outdoor Security Cameras (DIY, Step by Step)

Written & researched by Derek Holt Home & Appliances Editor

Updated August 2026

Wide view of a person mounting a small camera beside a front door, in soft early-morning light

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Mounting outdoor security cameras is a half-day DIY project needing a drill, a ladder, and a phone. Battery and Wi-Fi cameras mount in minutes with two screws; wired cameras add cable-routing time. Cost is the cameras themselves ($40 to $200 each). The work is low-risk unless a wired camera needs a new outlet, which is electrician territory. The skill is in placement: right height, right angles, overlapping coverage, and staying clear of a neighbor's privacy. Get the angles right and a modest camera outperforms a pricier one aimed poorly.

How to Install an Outdoor Security Camera

Plan placement before you drill

Walk your property and mark the entries: front door, back door, driveway, side yard, basement access. Decide a camera position for each that sees the approach and can also glimpse the base of the next camera, so there are no blind spots. Aim across your own property; use privacy masking to black out any neighbor's windows that fall in frame. Confirm each spot has power or Wi-Fi reach before committing.

Three-quarter view of a person mounting a small camera beside a front door, in warm late-afternoon light

Step-by-step mounting

Set the height and angle. Choose a spot 8 to 10 feet up, ideally under an eave or soffit, angled down toward the target.
Test the view first. Hold the camera at the spot and check the live app view. Adjust before you drill — this is far easier than re-mounting.
Mark and pilot-drill. Mark the mounting holes, then drill 1/4-inch pilots. Use masonry anchors for brick, stucco or concrete; wood screws bite directly into soffit and fascia.
Route the cable (wired only). Drill a downward-sloping cable hole behind the mount into the attic. Leave a drip loop and seal the penetration with exterior silicone.
Secure the mount. Fasten the base, then attach the camera. Add the angled wedge if a wall mount needs more downward tilt.
Power and connect. Power the camera (battery, PoE, or plug), then add it in the app over 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi or to your recorder.
Aim and set zones. Fine-tune the angle on the live view, set motion zones to cover your walkway and ignore the street, and enable privacy masking over any neighbor windows.
Weatherproof and tidy. Confirm connectors are sealed, cables are secured, and the lens is clear of glare. Recheck the view after dark for infrared coverage.

Wide environmental view of a person mounting a small camera beside a front door, in soft early-morning light

Tools and materials

You need a drill with masonry and wood bits, a ladder, exterior silicone, and masonry anchors for brick or stucco. For wired cameras, add a fish tape and weatherproof connectors. Choosing the right camera matters as much as the mount — our security camera picks compare battery, Wi-Fi and PoE models on owner-reported reliability. If you are going fully wired, our wired camera install guide covers cable runs and NVR setup, and a strong network from our Wi-Fi extender guide keeps wireless cameras from dropping. Fold it all into the DIY security system.

Low-angle view of a person mounting a small camera beside a front door, in soft overcast light

Mistakes that ruin coverage

Mounting too low. Reachable cameras get tampered with and capture foreheads. Aim for 8 to 10 feet.
Aiming into the sun. Direct sun washes the image out. Face away from sunrise and sunset lines, or use a visor.
No drip loop. Water tracks into wired connectors and corrodes them. Loop down and seal.
Filming a neighbor. Beyond being rude, it can break privacy law. Aim at your own property and mask neighbor windows.

When to call a pro

Mounting and aiming cameras is DIY. Call a licensed electrician only if a wired camera or PoE injector needs a new 120-volt outlet where none exists, or if you must route power through walls in ways local code restricts. Two-story eave work also warrants a stable setup and a helper — if you are not comfortable on a tall ladder, hire that part out. Privacy and recording laws differ by state and city, so confirm your local rules before pointing a camera anywhere near shared or public space.

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How to Mount Outdoor Security Cameras