How much does CCTV installation cost in Australia in 2026?
CCTV installation cost in Australia typically runs from $1,500 to $8,000 for a professionally installed home system in 2026, depending on how many cameras you need, the resolution, and how tricky the cabling is. A basic wired four-camera setup sits at the lower end; a full 4K job covering the whole house pushes toward the top.
If you're in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth or Adelaide and trying to work out whether that quote in your inbox is fair, this guide breaks down the real numbers — camera by camera, cable by cable — so you know exactly what you're paying for.
Want a fast ballpark before you read on? You can request a CCTV and security system quote and have local installers come back to you with real pricing.
Last updated: July 2026.
Key takeaways
- A professionally installed home CCTV system costs $1,500–$8,000 in 2026, with most Australian homeowners landing around $2,500–$4,500 for a solid 4K setup.
- The single biggest cost driver is cabling and labour, not the cameras — running Cat6 through a double-brick or double-storey home adds hundreds fast.
- The cheapest lever is camera count and resolution — dropping from eight cameras to four, or 4K to 1080p, can halve the price.
- A single extra camera added to an existing system runs $250–$500 installed.
- The thing to watch: cheap "supply and install" deals that use no-name cameras with poor low-light performance and no local support.
What this guide covers
- CCTV installation cost in Australia at a glance (price table)
- What drives the price up or down
- Home security camera cost by system size
- Wired vs wireless CCTV system price
- Monitored vs unmonitored: the ongoing cost
- Licensing, privacy and what's legal
- Frequently asked questions
CCTV installation cost in Australia 2026 — price table
Here's what Australians are paying for security camera installation cost in 2026, installed and inclusive of GST. These are ballpark ranges — the exact figure depends on your home, your cabling and the gear you choose.
| System / job | Typical installed price (inc. GST) | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Single camera add-on | $250 – $500 | One extra camera wired into an existing NVR |
| Wireless DIY kit (2–4 cameras) | $300 – $900 | Self-install, SD/cloud storage, no labour |
| 4-camera 1080p wired system | $1,500 – $3,000 | NVR/DVR, PoE cabling, professional install |
| 6-camera 4K system | $3,000 – $5,500 | 4K cameras, night vision, remote viewing |
| 8-camera 4K system | $4,500 – $8,000 | Full-home coverage, hardwired, app access |
| Commercial 12–16 camera fit-out | $8,000 – $20,000+ | Multi-zone coverage, monitoring, redundancy |
These ranges reflect the quotes and enquiries we see flowing through Leadkit's security installer network, cross-checked against current supplier and labour rates around Australia. Leadkit is our own lead-capture tool, so treat these as an honest indication rather than neutral third-party data.
This is a price indication only. Your tradie will confirm the final price after assessing the job.
Across the security enquiries generated through Leadkit, the part homeowners most often underestimate is the labour to run cable neatly through an existing home — the cameras themselves are rarely the expensive bit.
Not sure how many cameras you need? Get a tailored CCTV quote from installers near you — it takes about 30 seconds and there's no obligation.
What drives your CCTV system price up or down
The security camera installation cost comes down to five things: camera count, resolution, cabling difficulty, recording gear and who installs it.
Camera count is the obvious one. Most Australian homes are well covered by four to six cameras — front door, driveway, back yard and side access. Every extra camera adds roughly $250–$450 once you factor in the unit plus the cable run and labour.
Resolution is next. A 1080p (2MP) camera is fine for a general view; a 4K (8MP) camera lets you actually read a number plate or recognise a face at the fence line. Stepping the whole system up to 4K typically adds 20–40% to the hardware bill.
Cabling is where quotes swing the most. Running Cat6 cable through an accessible single-storey home with roof space is quick. A double-storey, double-brick or rendered home with no cavity access means more time, more labour, and sometimes external conduit — that's real money. Insider tip: ask whether the cameras are PoE (Power over Ethernet), which sends power and data down one cable and keeps the install tidy.
Then there's the recorder. A NVR (Network Video Recorder) pairs with IP cameras and is the modern standard; an older DVR works with analogue cameras and is cheaper but lower quality. More hard-drive storage — for longer recording history — adds a little too.
Home security camera cost by system size
Here's the home security camera cost broken down by the size of the job, so you can match it to your place.
Small home or unit (2–4 cameras): $1,500–$3,000. Covers the main entry points. Plenty for a townhouse, apartment or compact home in the suburbs.
Standard family home (4–6 cameras): $3,000–$5,500. The sweet spot for most Australian houses — front, back, both sides and the garage. This is where the majority of quotes land.
Large or double-storey home (8+ cameras): $4,500–$8,000+. Full perimeter coverage, upper-level views and blind-spot cameras. Bigger blocks on the Gold Coast or acreage properties can push past this.
If you already have a system and just want another angle covered, adding a single camera to an existing NVR is the cheap win at $250–$500. Because CCTV is often wired at the switchboard end, many homeowners bundle it with other electrical work — you can compare electrician callout and labour costs if you're planning a few jobs at once.
Wired vs wireless CCTV system price
A wired CCTV system costs more upfront but wins on reliability; a wireless system is cheaper and DIY-friendly but has trade-offs.
Wired (hardwired) systems run each camera back to the NVR on Cat6 cable. They don't drop out, they're not dependent on your Wi-Fi, and they record continuously. The catch is the labour — you're paying a licensed installer to run and terminate cable, which is why these land in the $1,500–$8,000 band.
Wireless systems send footage over Wi-Fi and often store it on an SD card or the cloud. A DIY kit from a hardware store or online runs $300–$900, and you can mount it yourself. The downsides: they still need power at each camera, Wi-Fi range can be flaky at the back fence, and cloud storage often comes with a monthly subscription.
For a permanent home security setup, most installers we work with recommend hardwired for anything you actually rely on, and reserve wireless for renters or quick, temporary coverage. Licensed electricians and security techs handle the wired jobs — the same crews you'd find across our trades and electrical calculators.
Monitored vs unmonitored: the ongoing cost
Beyond installation, decide whether you want the system monitored — because that's an ongoing cost, not a one-off.
Unmonitored is the default for most homes. You get alerts on your phone and can view live footage through an app, at no monthly cost. You're the one who responds.
Monitored means a control room watches for alarms and can dispatch a patrol or call you. Expect $25–$60 per month for monitoring on top of the install. It's more common on commercial sites and higher-value homes.
There's also maintenance. Cameras get spider webs, lenses fog, and firmware needs updating. Budget a bit for the occasional service call, especially before summer storms when you want footage working.
Licensing, privacy and what's legal
In Australia, installing CCTV for someone else is licensed work — this matters for both quality and legality.
Anyone installing or selling security systems as a business needs a security licence. In NSW that's issued through the Security Licensing & Enforcement Directorate; other states have their own regulator. Always ask for the licence number and check the installer is a member of a recognised body — the Australian Security Industry Association (ASIAL) is the peak industry group. You can also confirm consumer rights and licensing basics through NSW Fair Trading or your state equivalent.
Privacy is the other one people forget. You can film your own property, but cameras that capture a neighbour's yard, a shared driveway or the street can raise issues under the Privacy Act and surveillance-device laws. The Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) has guidance worth a read before you aim a camera over the fence. A good installer will angle cameras to cover your boundary without pointing straight into next door's bedroom window.
Frequently asked questions
Q: How much does CCTV installation cost in Australia in 2026?
A: A professionally installed home CCTV system costs roughly $1,500–$8,000 in 2026, with most Australians paying $2,500–$4,500 for a good 4K setup. The price depends on how many cameras you need, the resolution, and how hard the cabling is to run. A basic four-camera 1080p system starts around $1,500, while an eight-camera 4K system covering a double-storey home can reach $8,000. Wireless DIY kits are far cheaper at $300–$900 but you install them yourself. It's worth comparing against other home security spending too, like locksmith and lock upgrade costs, when you plan the budget.
Q: How much does one security camera cost to install?
A: Adding a single camera to an existing system costs about $250–$500 installed, inclusive of GST. That covers the camera unit, the cable run back to your NVR, and the labour to mount and configure it. The price climbs if the camera goes somewhere awkward — a second storey, across a driveway, or where there's no easy cable path. If you're starting from scratch rather than adding to an existing setup, you're paying for the recorder and cabling infrastructure too, which is why full systems start higher.
Q: Is a wired or wireless CCTV system better?
A: Wired systems are more reliable and are the go-to for permanent home security, while wireless systems are cheaper and easier to DIY. A hardwired setup won't drop out with your Wi-Fi and records continuously, but you pay a licensed installer to run the cable — that's most of the cost. Wireless kits at $300–$900 suit renters or temporary coverage, though Wi-Fi range and cloud subscriptions can be a hassle. For a home you'll live in long-term, most installers recommend hardwired for anything important.
Q: Do I need a licensed installer for CCTV?
A: Yes — anyone installing or selling security systems as a business in Australia needs a security licence, issued by your state's regulator. Using a licensed installer protects you if something goes wrong and usually means better gear and support. Ask for the licence number and check they're a member of an industry body like ASIAL. DIY wireless kits you buy and install yourself don't require a licence, but hardwired jobs and anything you're paying someone for should always be done by a licensed operator.
Q: How many CCTV cameras do I need for my home?
A: Most Australian homes are well covered by four to six cameras — front door, driveway, back yard, side access and the garage. A small unit or townhouse might only need two to four; a large or double-storey home often wants eight or more to cover upper levels and blind spots. It's better to cover the key entry points properly with fewer high-quality cameras than to spread a big number of cheap ones thin. An installer will walk the property and map the coverage before quoting — compare security system options here.
Q: What's the ongoing cost after installation?
A: The main ongoing cost is optional monitoring at $25–$60 per month, if you want a control room watching for alarms. An unmonitored system — where you get phone alerts and view footage yourself through an app — has no monthly fee. Beyond that, budget for the occasional maintenance or service call to clean lenses, clear spider webs and update firmware, especially before storm season. Wireless systems using cloud storage may also charge a subscription for footage history, so check that before you buy a DIY kit.
Final tips before you get quotes
Get at least two or three quotes and make sure they're comparing the same thing — camera count, resolution, storage days and whether cabling is included. A cheap "supply and install" deal often uses no-name cameras with poor low-light performance and no local support when it fails.
Ask about the lux rating and infrared range if night footage matters — that's what separates a camera that shows a clear face at 2am from one that shows a useless grey blur. And confirm the installer is licensed and insured before anyone drills into your walls.
You can browse the full Leadkit calculator library to compare costs on other home projects while you're planning your budget.
Want CCTV pricing matched to your home? Request a free security system quote — local installers come back to you with real numbers, and it takes about 30 seconds with no obligation. Remember: any figure you get online is a price indication only, and your installer will confirm the final price after assessing the job.