Quick answer: Put cameras where money, merchandise and people move: every entrance and exit (to capture faces), every register (to see hands, cash and the screen), high-value aisles, the stockroom and receiving door, the office or safe, and the parking lot. Mount them so they avoid backlight from windows, cover blind corners, and capture faces at eye level near doors.
Camera count matters less than camera placement. A few well-placed cameras beat many cameras pointed at ceilings and empty shelves.
The five goals of good placement
- Identify: capture clear faces at entrances and registers.
- Observe: see behavior across the sales floor.
- Protect cash: watch every point where money changes hands or is stored.
- Protect stock: cover high-value items, the stockroom and deliveries.
- Protect the perimeter: doors, parking and the back of the building.
Room-by-room placement
1. Entrances and exits
- Mount a camera inside, facing the door, at roughly head height or slightly above, to capture faces as people enter.
- Avoid pointing directly at glass doors with bright daylight behind them. Use a camera with wide dynamic range (WDR), or angle it slightly.
- Add a wide camera that shows the whole entrance area.
2. Registers and checkout
- One camera above and slightly behind each cashier, so you can see hands, cash drawer, counter and screen.
- A second angle facing the customer side identifies who was served.
- This view settles disputes about cash shortages, refunds and voids.
3. Sales floor and aisles
- Cover high-theft aisles: tobacco, vape, alcohol, cosmetics, electronics, over-the-counter medicine.
- Use the ends of aisles for long views down each aisle.
- Use convex mirrors for corners cameras cannot reach.
4. Stockroom and receiving
- A camera on the receiving door to verify deliveries and catch back-door theft.
- A camera across the stockroom racks, especially for high-value stock.
5. Office, safe and cash room
- Cover the safe and counting table so every count is recorded.
- Cash counts should happen only where this camera can see them.
6. Parking lot, pumps and exterior
- Cover the lot, dumpsters and building corners.
- At gas stations, cover every pump island with angles that can capture plates.
- Make sure exterior areas are well lit, or use cameras with good night vision.
7. Restrooms and private areas
- Never place cameras inside restrooms, changing rooms or other private areas. It is illegal in many places and a serious breach of trust. You can cover the hallway outside.
Common placement mistakes
- Cameras facing bright windows, which turns faces into silhouettes.
- Cameras mounted too high, so you see only the tops of heads.
- No camera on the register, the most important view in retail.
- Ignoring the back door and receiving area.
- Default passwords left on the recorder.
- Too few recording days stored to cover a weekend.
How many cameras does a small store need?
A useful starting formula:
- 1 per entrance or exit
- 1 to 2 per register
- 1 per long or high-value aisle
- 1 for the stockroom and 1 for the receiving door
- 1 for the office or safe
- 1 to 2 for the parking lot (more at gas stations)
A typical small convenience store ends up with 8 to 16 cameras.
Placement for remote monitoring
If operators will watch your cameras live, plan for it:
- the register view is essential for cash and attendance checks;
- a clear entrance view lets operators confirm clock-ins and openings;
- wide views of the floor make behavior easier to follow;
- stable internet at the store keeps feeds smooth.
Frequently asked questions
How high should a security camera be mounted?
For identification near doors, mount around 7 to 9 feet with a slight downward angle. For overview cameras, higher is fine.
Should cameras be visible or hidden?
Visible cameras deter theft; hidden cameras catch theft. Most stores use mostly visible cameras plus a few discreet ones at high-risk spots.
Do I need audio recording?
Audio recording laws vary by state, and some require consent. Check your state's rules before enabling audio.
How long should I keep footage?
Many businesses keep 14 to 30 days. Keep at least enough to cover a long weekend and the time it takes you to notice a problem.
Key takeaways
- Prioritize entrances, registers, high-value aisles, stockroom, safe and parking.
- Avoid backlight, high mounting and blind spots.
- Never place cameras in private areas.
- Plan views with monitoring in mind if you want live oversight.
Next step: Not sure your cameras cover what matters? Ask Digital EYE for a free camera coverage review.