Inputs
Example data table
| Scenario | Cameras | Access doors | Retention (days) | Cable (m) | Labor rate | Tier |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Office + warehouse | 16 | 4 | 30 | 900 | 38 | Standard |
| Retail strip | 24 | 2 | 21 | 1200 | 42 | Economy |
| Construction laydown yard | 12 | 0 | 14 | 650 | 35 | Premium |
Formula used
- Storage bitrate per camera: bitrate(Mbps) = max(0.8, 0.25 × MP + 0.5)
- Total storage (TB): TB = (total_Mbps × 1,000,000 × seconds) ÷ 8 ÷ 1,000,000,000,000 × 1.2
- Equipment subtotal: sum of devices + recording + storage + cable + conduit + infrastructure
- Labor hours: base + device_hours + cabling_hours + configuration_hours
- Labor cost: (labor_hours × labor_rate × complexity_multiplier) + mobilization
- Soft costs: design = design% × (equipment + labor); misc = misc% × (equipment + labor)
- Upfront subtotal: equipment + labor + design + permits + misc
- Total upfront: (subtotal + contingency) + tax
- First-year total: total_upfront + 12×monitoring + annual_maintenance
How to use this calculator
- Enter device quantities for cameras, access doors, and sensors.
- Select an equipment tier to load typical unit pricing.
- Set retention days and camera megapixels for storage needs.
- Enter cable and conduit lengths for your routing plan.
- Choose complexity and labor rate to reflect site conditions.
- Add soft costs, contingency, and tax to match your estimate.
- Press Calculate to see totals and line items above.
- Use CSV/PDF downloads to share the estimate quickly.
Scope definition drives accuracy
Security budgets fail when scope is vague. Start by separating surveillance, access control, and intrusion detection. Count controlled doors, camera locations, and alarm points from drawings, then confirm power and network availability. A small scope change, like adding a guarded gate or elevator lobby, can shift material and labor sharply.
Device quantities and unit pricing
This calculator uses tiered unit pricing to create fast budget ranges. Economy tiers fit temporary sites and basic indoor coverage. Standard tiers match most commercial installations with reliable midrange hardware. Premium tiers support harsh environments, higher durability, and advanced analytics. As a rule of thumb, many projects land between 8–20 cameras per 1,000 m², with 1–4 controlled doors per tenant zone.
Video retention and storage sizing
Recording costs depend on resolution, camera count, and retention days. The storage model estimates bitrate from megapixels, then converts total Mbps into terabytes over the retention period, adding overhead for file systems and motion spikes. If you increase retention from 14 to 30 days, storage can more than double, and recorder capacity may need an upgrade. Lower frame rates and smart motion recording can reduce storage materially.
Labor drivers in construction sites
Installation hours rise with access difficulty, long cable routes, and multi-floor pathways. Cameras typically require mounting, aiming, and commissioning time per unit. Doors add hardware fitting, strike alignment, and testing. Cabling and conduit add hours per 100 meters, and complexity multipliers capture constraints like night work, occupied areas, or strict permit windows. Field termination, labeling, and as-built documentation often consume 10–15% of labor. Commissioning includes user enrollment, door schedules, privacy masks, and backup verification.
Risk allowances and lifecycle costs
Upfront totals include design, permits, misc items, contingency, and tax. Contingency protects against unknown routing, rework, or lead time substitutions. First-year totals add monitoring and maintenance so owners can compare outsourcing versus in-house staffing. For multi-year planning, apply escalation to service fees and consider replacing batteries and storage drives on schedule, and operator training.
FAQs
Does the calculator include installation labor?
Yes. Labor hours are estimated from device counts, cabling, floors, and a complexity multiplier. You can override the hourly rate and mobilization to match your crew or subcontractor pricing.
How should I estimate camera quantities?
Use drawings to place cameras at entries, loading areas, parking lines, and key corridors. Many commercial sites fall near 8–20 cameras per 1,000 m², then adjust for visibility, risk, and lighting.
What drives storage cost the most?
Retention days, camera resolution, and camera count. Doubling retention roughly doubles storage. Reducing frame rate, using H.265, or enabling motion recording can cut required terabytes significantly.
Can I use this for temporary construction sites?
Yes. Select an economy tier, reduce retention, and limit indoor intrusion devices if they are not used. Add mobilization and conduit only where needed, and include monitoring if a guard service is required.
Why add contingency and miscellaneous percentages?
Field conditions change: pathway reroutes, core drilling, patching, and hardware substitutions. Misc covers small materials and coordination. Contingency protects schedule and budget when unknowns become real.
What costs are not covered?
Local code upgrades, dedicated fiber backhaul, guard staffing, structural mounting engineering, and long-term replacement cycles beyond the first year. If the project requires certified testing or third‑party inspections, add those fees separately.