Home Security Camera Coverage Calculator

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.calc-container { max-width: 640px; margin: 2rem 0; padding: 1.5rem; background: #fff; border: 1px solid #ddd; border-radius: 8px; box-shadow: 0 1px 3px rgba(0,0,0,0.06); font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, sans-serif; } .calc-container h3 { font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 1.15rem; color: #1a1a1a; margin-bottom: 1rem; padding-bottom: 0.5rem; border-bottom: 2px solid var(--ac, #3d5a80); } .calc-row { display: flex; align-items: center; gap: 0.75rem; margin-bottom: 0.75rem; flex-wrap: wrap; } .calc-row label { min-width: 160px; font-size: 0.9rem; color: #333; font-weight: 500; } .calc-row input[type="number"], .calc-row select { flex: 1; min-width: 120px; max-width: 200px; padding: 0.5rem 0.6rem; border: 1px solid #ccc; border-radius: 4px; font-size: 0.9rem; font-family: system-ui, sans-serif; color: #1a1a1a; background: #fafaf8; } .calc-row input:focus, .calc-row select:focus { outline: none; border-color: var(--ac, #3d5a80); box-shadow: 0 0 0 2px rgba(26,74,138,0.12); } .calc-row .unit { font-size: 0.82rem; color: #888; min-width: 30px; } .calc-btn { display: inline-block; margin-top: 0.5rem; padding: 0.55rem 1.5rem; background: var(--ac, #3d5a80); color: #fff; border: none; border-radius: 4px; font-size: 0.9rem; font-weight: 600; cursor: pointer; font-family: system-ui, sans-serif; } .calc-btn:hover { opacity: 0.9; } .calc-result { margin-top: 1.25rem; padding: 1rem 1.25rem; background: #f0f6fc; border-left: 3px solid var(--ac, #3d5a80); border-radius: 0 6px 6px 0; display: none; } .calc-result.visible { display: block; } .calc-result-label { font-size: 0.78rem; text-transform: uppercase; letter-spacing: 0.06em; color: #666; margin-bottom: 0.25rem; } .calc-result-value { font-size: 1.6rem; font-weight: 700; color: var(--ac, #3d5a80); } .calc-result-detail { font-size: 0.85rem; color: #555; margin-top: 0.5rem; line-height: 1.5; } .calc-note { margin-top: 1rem; font-size: 0.8rem; color: #888; font-style: italic; } .calc-grid { display: grid; grid-template-columns: 1fr 1fr; gap: 0.75rem; margin-top: 0.75rem; } .calc-grid-item { padding: 0.6rem 0.8rem; background: #f8f9fa; border-radius: 4px; border: 1px solid #eee; } .calc-grid-item .label { font-size: 0.75rem; color: #888; text-transform: uppercase; letter-spacing: 0.04em; } .calc-grid-item .value { font-size: 1.1rem; font-weight: 600; color: #1a1a1a; } @media (max-width: 720px) { .calc-row { flex-direction: column; align-items: flex-start; gap: 0.3rem; } .calc-row label { min-width: auto; } .calc-row input[type="number"], .calc-row select { max-width: 100%; width: 100%; } .calc-grid { grid-template-columns: 1fr; } } .calc-chart { margin: 1rem 0; text-align: center; } .calc-chart svg { max-width: 100%; height: auto; } .calc-chart-legend { display: flex; flex-wrap: wrap; justify-content: center; gap: 0.6rem 1.2rem; margin-top: 0.6rem; font-size: 0.8rem; color: #555; } .calc-chart-legend span { display: inline-flex; align-items: center; gap: 0.3rem; } .calc-chart-legend i { display: inline-block; width: 10px; height: 10px; border-radius: 2px; font-style: normal; } .calc-related { max-width: 640px; margin: 2rem 0 1rem; padding: 1.25rem 1.5rem; background: #f8f9fa; border: 1px solid #e8e8e8; border-radius: 8px; } .calc-related h3 { font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 1rem; color: #1a1a1a; margin: 0 0 0.75rem; padding-bottom: 0.4rem; border-bottom: 2px solid var(--ac, #3d5a80); } .calc-related-list { list-style: none; padding: 0; margin: 0 0 0.75rem; display: grid; grid-template-columns: 1fr 1fr; gap: 0.4rem 1.5rem; } .calc-related-list li a { font-size: 0.88rem; color: var(--ac, #3d5a80); text-decoration: none; } .calc-related-list li a:hover { text-decoration: underline; } .calc-browse-all { margin: 0.5rem 0 0; font-size: 0.9rem; font-weight: 600; } .calc-browse-all a { color: var(--ac, #3d5a80); text-decoration: none; } .calc-browse-all a:hover { text-decoration: underline; } @media (max-width: 720px) { .calc-related-list { grid-template-columns: 1fr; } }

Home Security Camera Coverage Calculator

Calculate the number of cameras needed to cover your property, the coverage area per camera, and total coverage based on camera field of view and placement height.

Total Property Area to Cover (sq ft)

Camera Field of View (degrees)

Camera Mounting Height (ft)

Camera Max Range / Depth of View (ft)

Desired Overlap Between Cameras (%)

Calculate

### Results

Coverage Area per Camera Effective Coverage per Camera (after overlap) Number of Cameras Needed Total Coverage Provided Camera Footprint Width at Max Range

function homCalc() { const errEl = document.getElementById('hom-error'); const resEl = document.getElementById('hom-result'); errEl.style.display = 'none'; resEl.style.display = 'none';

const area = parseFloat(document.getElementById('hom-area').value); const fov = parseFloat(document.getElementById('hom-fov').value); const height = parseFloat(document.getElementById('hom-height').value); const range = parseFloat(document.getElementById('hom-range').value); const overlap = parseFloat(document.getElementById('hom-overlap').value);

// --- Validation --- const errors = []; if (isNaN(area) || area 360) errors.push("Field of view must be between 10° and 360°."); if (isNaN(height) || height = 100) errors.push("Overlap must be between 0% and 80%."); if (range 0) { errEl.innerHTML = errors.join(''); errEl.style.display = 'block'; return; }

/ * FORMULAS * -------- * The camera projects a triangular/sector footprint on the ground. * The model treats the coverage as a circular sector (pie slice) on the ground plane. * * Effective ground range (R_g): * The camera is mounted at height h. The line-of-sight range is R (max range). * Ground range = sqrt(R^2 - h^2) [Pythagorean theorem] * Capped at R if h is negligible or user intends horizontal range. * * Coverage area per camera (sector area): * A = (FOV_rad / 2) * R_g^2 * where FOV_rad = FOV_deg * (pi / 180) * This is the standard circular sector area formula: A = 0.5 * r^2 * theta * * Footprint width at max ground range: * W = 2 * R_g * tan(FOV_rad / 2) * * Effective coverage per camera (accounting for overlap): * A_eff = A * (1 - overlap/100) * * Number of cameras needed: * N = ceil(Total_Area / A_eff) * * Total coverage provided: * T = N * A (gross, before overlap deduction) /

const fovRad = fov * (Math.PI / 180); const hSq = height * height; const rSq = range * range;

// Ground range: if range

#### Formulas Used

Ground Range (Rg): Rg = √(R² − h²) where R = camera max range (ft), h = mounting height (ft).

Coverage Area per Camera (Circular Sector): A = ½ × Rg² × θ where θ = field of view in radians = FOV° × (π / 180).

Footprint Width at Max Range: W = 2 × Rg × tan(θ / 2)

Effective Coverage per Camera: Aeff = A × (1 − Overlap%/100)

Number of Cameras Needed: N = ⌈ Total Area / Aeff ⌉ (ceiling function)

Total Coverage Provided: T = N × A

#### Assumptions & References

Camera coverage is modelled as a circular sector (pie-slice) projected onto a flat ground plane — a standard approximation used in security planning.
The ground range is derived from the camera's line-of-sight range and mounting height using the Pythagorean theorem, assuming the camera is angled to capture the farthest point at ground level.
Typical residential cameras have a FOV of 90°–120° and a useful range of 20–50 ft for clear identification.
A 20% overlap is recommended as a minimum to eliminate blind spots between adjacent cameras (ASIS International, Physical Security Standard).
Mounting height of 8–10 ft is recommended for optimal angle and tamper resistance (per CCTV installation best practices).

Home Security Camera Coverage Calculator

Home Security Camera Coverage Calculator

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Home Security Camera Coverage Calculator

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