Price Guide

How Much Does a CCTV Installer Really Cost?

Compare prices for 12 services across 342 UK locations. Data-driven pricing updated for .

12 services priced 342 cities covered Updated

National pricing

CCTV Installer Prices

National average prices. Select a city below for local pricing.

All prices include materials and labour unless stated otherwise. Prices verified 2026

2-Camera CCTV System

Low

£350

Average

£500

High

£700

3-4 hours

More details

Supply and installation of a 2-camera wired CCTV system with a recording box that stores the footage. Includes HD cameras, all cabling, power supply, and setting up viewing on your phone so you can watch live from anywhere.

~50% labour, ~50% materials

What affects the price

  • Camera type (bullet, dome, turret)
  • Resolution (1080p, 2K, 4K)
  • Length of cable runs required
  • Whether existing wiring can be reused

4-Camera CCTV System

Low

£600

Average

£1,000

High

£1,400

4-6 hours

More details

Supply and installation of a 4-camera wired CCTV system with DVR/NVR recorder and hard drive. Includes cameras, cabling, mounting, power supply and remote app setup.

~50% labour, ~50% materials

What affects the price

  • Camera resolution and night vision quality
  • Whether IP or analogue cameras are used
  • Cable routing complexity (internal vs external)
  • DVR/NVR storage capacity

8-Camera CCTV System

Low

£1,200

Average

£1,800

High

£2,500

1-2 days

More details

Supply and installation of an 8-camera wired CCTV system for larger properties. Includes IP cameras, NVR with large hard drive, full cabling, mounting and remote viewing configuration.

~50% labour, ~50% materials

What affects the price

  • Property size and number of buildings
  • Camera specification (4K, AI detection, varifocal)
  • Length and complexity of cable runs
  • Whether PoE (Power over Ethernet) is used

Doorbell Camera Installation

Low

£80

Average

£150

High

£250

30-60 minutes

More details

Installation of a video doorbell camera such as Ring, Nest or Eufy. Includes mounting, wiring (if hardwired model), Wi-Fi connection and app setup on your phone.

~33% labour, ~67% materials

What affects the price

  • Brand and model of doorbell camera
  • Whether hardwired or battery powered
  • Existing doorbell wiring availability
  • Wi-Fi signal strength at the front door

Wireless CCTV System

Low

£400

Average

£650

High

£900

2-4 hours

More details

Supply and installation of a 4-camera wireless CCTV system. Cameras connect via Wi-Fi to a base station or NVR. Includes cameras, base unit, app setup and positioning for optimal coverage.

~42% labour, ~58% materials

What affects the price

  • Wi-Fi range and signal strength around the property
  • Whether cameras are battery or mains powered
  • Cloud storage vs local recording
  • Camera brand and resolution

CCTV Maintenance and Service

Low

£50

Average

£100

High

£175

1-2 hours

More details

Annual service visit to check and maintain an existing CCTV system. Includes cleaning camera lenses, checking connections, updating firmware and verifying recording and playback.

~90% labour, ~10% materials

What affects the price

  • Number of cameras in the system
  • Whether any parts need replacing
  • Age and condition of the system
  • Whether remote viewing needs reconfiguring

Additional Camera Installation

Low

£100

Average

£200

High

£350

1-2 hours

More details

Adding an extra camera to an existing CCTV system. Includes supply of camera, cable run to the DVR/NVR, mounting, configuration and integration with remote viewing.

~50% labour, ~50% materials

What affects the price

  • Camera type and resolution
  • Distance from the recorder
  • Whether the DVR/NVR has spare channels
  • Cable routing difficulty

CCTV Repair

Low

£60

Average

£120

High

£250

1-2 hours

More details

Diagnosing and fixing a fault with an existing CCTV system. Common issues include failed cameras, recording problems, connectivity issues and power supply faults.

~58% labour, ~42% materials

What affects the price

  • Type of fault (camera, recorder, cabling, power)
  • Whether replacement parts are needed
  • Age of the system and parts availability
  • Number of cameras affected

Commercial CCTV System

Low

£2,000

Average

£3,500

High

£6,000

2-4 days

More details

Supply and installation of a commercial-grade CCTV system for a shop, office or business premises. Typically 8-16 cameras with NVR, remote monitoring and 30-day recording retention.

~43% labour, ~57% materials

What affects the price

  • Number and type of cameras required
  • Size of the premises
  • Whether it needs to meet insurance requirements
  • Integration with access control or alarm systems

Number Plate Recognition (ANPR)

Low

£2,000

Average

£4,000

High

£7,000

1-2 days

More details

Installation of an ANPR camera system to automatically read and log vehicle number plates. Used for car park management, site access control and security. Includes camera, software and integration.

~31% labour, ~69% materials

What affects the price

  • Number of entry and exit lanes
  • Whether integrated with barriers or access gates
  • Software licence and ongoing subscription costs
  • Lighting conditions (IR illumination may be needed)

Remote Viewing Setup

Low

£40

Average

£80

High

£130

30-60 minutes

More details

Configuring remote access to your existing CCTV system so you can view live feeds and recordings from your phone, tablet or computer from anywhere.

What affects the price

  • DVR/NVR brand and model (some are easier than others)
  • Internet speed and router configuration
  • Number of devices to set up
  • Whether port forwarding or P2P cloud access is used

CCTV Upgrade and Replacement

Low

£400

Average

£750

High

£1,200

3-5 hours

More details

Replacing an outdated CCTV system with modern HD or IP cameras. Includes new cameras and recorder while reusing existing cable runs where possible.

~47% labour, ~53% materials

What affects the price

  • Number of cameras being replaced
  • Whether existing cabling supports new cameras
  • Upgrade from analogue to IP (may need new cable)
  • New recorder specification and storage

Popular locations

CCTV Installation Costs by City

London

£435–£870

Birmingham

£325–£655

Leeds

£340–£680

Glasgow

£365–£735

Sheffield

£345–£690

Manchester

£340–£685

Bradford

£305–£615

Edinburgh

£400–£800

Liverpool

£345–£690

Bristol

£375–£755

Coventry

£335–£670

Leicester

£300–£600

Local pricing

Find CCTV Installer Costs in Your City

Browse all 342 cities for local cctv installer pricing.

Barking and Dagenham Barnet Bexley London
Brighton Milton Keynes Reading Southampton
Bournemouth Bristol Gloucester Plymouth
Colchester Luton Norwich Peterborough
Birmingham Coventry Stoke-on-Trent Wolverhampton
Derby Leicester Northampton Nottingham
Bradford Leeds Sheffield York
Bolton Liverpool Manchester Warrington
County Durham Middlesbrough Newcastle upon Tyne Sunderland
Blaenau Gwent Bridgend Cardiff Swansea
Aberdeen Dundee Edinburgh Glasgow
Belfast

Regional comparison

2-Camera CCTV System by City

Average cost of 2-camera cctv system across key UK cities.

London
+24% £620
Manchester
-2% £490
Birmingham
-7% £465
Glasgow
+5% £525
Bristol
+7% £540
Leeds
-3% £485
Cardiff
-2% £490
Belfast
-13% £435

Overview

What Does a CCTV Installer Do?

A cctv installer provides professional services covering home and commercial cctv installation, maintenance and security camera systems. They handle everything from routine maintenance and inspections to full installations and emergency repairs. Whether you need a small repair or a major project, hiring a qualified cctv installer ensures the work is done safely, to code, and to a professional standard.

You should hire a cctv installer whenever you need work that requires specialist skills, tools, or qualifications. Many types of cctv installer work are regulated and must be carried out by a certified professional. Attempting DIY on regulated work can be dangerous, void your insurance, and create costly problems down the line.

Pricing for cctv installer services depends on the complexity of what you need, the options chosen, and where you live in the UK. Simpler services sit at the lower end of the scale, while more involved or premium options will be significantly more expensive. The prices on this page give you a realistic range for each type of service so you know what to expect before getting quotes.

When hiring a cctv installer, always get at least three quotes from different tradespeople. Read recent reviews and ask for references. Always check qualifications, insurance and recent reviews. A reputable cctv installer will be happy to provide a detailed breakdown of costs and explain exactly what is included in their quote.

Related services

Related Services

Services often needed alongside a cctv installer.

Alarm Installation UK price guide £300–£800 Locksmith UK price guide £60–£150 Aerial & Satellite Installation UK price guide £150–£300 Electrician UK price guide £4,000–£8,000 Handyman UK price guide £40–£120 Fencing UK price guide £100–£220 Carpentry UK price guide £70–£200 Window Fitting UK price guide £400–£750

Common questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about cctv installer costs in the UK.

Do I need planning permission for CCTV cameras?
For residential CCTV, you generally do not need planning permission. However, your cameras must not point at public spaces or neighbours property where there is a reasonable expectation of privacy. You also need to comply with data protection laws (GDPR) if your cameras capture footage beyond your own property.
What is the difference between wired and wireless CCTV?
Wired systems (PoE) are more reliable with no signal dropouts and provide a stable power supply, but require cable runs to each camera. Wireless (Wi-Fi) cameras are easier to install and reposition, but depend on strong Wi-Fi signal and need regular battery charging or mains power.
How much storage do CCTV cameras need?
A typical 4-camera system recording continuously at 1080p uses around 1TB per week. Most home systems record on motion detection only, which dramatically reduces storage needs. A 2TB hard drive in an NVR usually stores 2-4 weeks of motion-triggered footage.
Are CCTV cameras effective at deterring burglars?
Yes. Research consistently shows that visible CCTV cameras are one of the most effective deterrents against break-ins. Combine cameras with good lighting and visible signage for the best effect. Modern systems with phone alerts also let you respond to suspicious activity in real time.
Do I need to display signs if I have CCTV?
Yes. Under UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act, if your cameras capture footage of people beyond your property boundary, you must display clear signs informing people that CCTV is in operation. The signs should include your contact details and the purpose of the recording. Your installer should provide compliant signage.
How long does CCTV footage need to be kept?
There is no legal minimum for domestic CCTV, but most home systems retain 2-4 weeks of footage before overwriting. For commercial premises, the ICO recommends retaining footage for no longer than 30 days unless there is a specific reason to keep it longer. Your installer will configure retention based on your storage capacity.
What resolution should I choose for home CCTV cameras?
1080p (Full HD) is the minimum you should consider and is fine for most homes. 2K (4MP) gives noticeably sharper images, especially for identifying faces and number plates at a distance. 4K cameras produce excellent detail but require more storage and a stronger network. For typical front door and driveway coverage, 2K offers the best balance.
Can I install CCTV cameras myself or do I need a professional?
Wireless doorbell cameras and plug-in Wi-Fi cameras are designed for DIY installation. However, a professional wired system with multiple cameras, proper cable runs, and an NVR is best installed by a professional. They will position cameras for optimal coverage, run cables neatly, and configure the system properly.
What happens to my CCTV if the broadband goes down?
If you have a local NVR or DVR, your cameras continue to record footage locally even without broadband. You just lose remote viewing and phone alerts until the connection is restored. Cloud-only cameras (like some Ring or Arlo models) stop recording entirely without internet, which is a significant limitation.
How much does a cctv installer cost in the UK?
The most common cctv installer job, 2-camera cctv system, costs between £350 and £700 nationally, with an average of £500. Prices vary depending on the scope of work, materials used, and your location within the UK.
What affects cctv installer prices?
The main factors are the complexity and scope of what you need, the options and products chosen, and your location. London and the South East are typically 15-35% more expensive than northern regions. Getting multiple quotes is the best way to ensure a fair price.
How do I find a reliable cctv installer?
Get at least three quotes from different tradespeople, check recent reviews and references, and ask for a detailed written quote that breaks down all costs before committing. Always check qualifications, insurance and recent reviews.
Do cctv installer prices vary by location?
Yes, significantly. London is the most expensive area, with prices typically 20-35% above the national average. The South East is also above average. Northern England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland tend to be 5-15% below the national average. Our city pages show exact local pricing for 342 UK locations.
Do the prices shown include materials?
The prices on this page include all typical costs. However, when getting real quotes, always confirm what is and isn't included. Some tradespeople break out costs separately, while others give an all-in price. Ask for a detailed breakdown before agreeing to any work.
When is the best time to hire a cctv installer?
Demand for cctv installer services tends to peak in autumn and winter, which can mean longer wait times and higher prices. If your job isn't urgent, booking during spring or summer may get you a better rate and faster availability. Emergency work will always cost more regardless of the time of year.