CCTV for shops: how many cameras you need and where to put them
A typical shop needs about 6 CCTV cameras — 3 to cover the essentials (entrance, till / counter, shop floor), up to 7 for complete coverage. Below is a placement map, the right camera type for each spot, a 8-channel recorder with 2 TB of storage and a complete kit with prices in Kenya.
Where to place CCTV cameras in a shop
Recommended plan for a medium-sized shop — 6 cameras. Numbers match the table below.
| # | Area | Camera | Qty | Why it goes here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | EntranceEssential | Eyeball | 1 | Captures the face of every customer who walks in — vital if you ever need to identify a shoplifter. Mount it inside, above head height, looking at the door. |
| 2 | Till / counterEssential | Dome | 1 | Records every cash and M-Pesa transaction, the customer and the cashier — it settles disputes and discourages theft. Directly above and slightly behind the cashier, looking down at the counter. |
| 3 | Shop floorEssential | Fisheye | 1 | A single ceiling fisheye sees the whole floor, so there is nowhere to hide goods. |
| 4 | Shelves / aisles | Dome | 2 | Close-up of the shelves where small, valuable items are kept. |
| 5 | Stock room | Dome | 1 | Stops stock going missing from the back — a common source of losses. |
Which cameras to use
Eyeball (turret) camera
Compact 4MP camera with a wide 2.8 mm lens and infrared night vision. Easy to aim, no glare from the dome cover.
Best for: Entrances, receptions and doors — anywhere you need clear faces.
Vandal-proof dome camera
Tough, tamper-resistant dome housing that hides where the lens is pointing.
Best for: Tills, cash offices, corridors and anywhere within reach of people.
360° fisheye camera
Mounted on the ceiling, one fisheye camera sees the whole room with no blind spots.
Best for: Open shop floors, halls, open-plan offices and dining areas.
Recorder, storage and cabling
For 6 cameras use a 8-channel PoE NVR (it powers the cameras through the network cable) with a 2 TB surveillance hard drive — about 14 days of continuous 4MP recording. Allow roughly 232 m of Cat6 cable, and a UPS so the system keeps recording during power cuts.
Complete kit & prices
- Dahua IPC-HDW5442TM-ASE 4MP WizMind IR Eyeball Network Camera × 1 KSh 12,000
- Dahua IPC-HDBW5442R-ASE 4MP Vandal-proof Dome WizMind Network Camera × 4 KSh 112,000
- Dahua IPC-EW5541-AS 5MP WizMind IR Fisheye Network Camera × 1 KSh 25,000
- Dahua NVR5216-16P-EI 16-Channel 2HDD PoE Network Video Recorder × 1 KSh 45,000
- 2 TB surveillance hard drive (quoted) × 1 —
- Cat6 Outdoor Ethernet Cable × 1 KSh 10,000
- UPS backup power (1 kVA) (quoted) × 1 —
In-stock equipment: KSh 204,000+ 2 TB surveillance hard drive, UPS backup power (1 kVA) (quoted)
Adjust to your shop & add to cartFrequently asked questions
How many CCTV cameras does a shop need?
A typical shop needs 3 to 6 cameras: one facing the entrance, one over each till, a ceiling fisheye or dome covering the floor, one in the stock room and one outside the front.
Where should the camera over the till go?
Directly above and slightly behind the cashier, looking down, so it records the cash drawer, the customer’s hands and the M-Pesa screen.
What recorder and storage does a shop CCTV system need?
For about 6 cameras, a 8-channel PoE network video recorder (NVR) with a 2 TB surveillance hard drive keeps roughly 14 days of continuous 4MP footage.
Can Kefa Solutions install CCTV for my shop?
Yes. Kefa Solutions technicians survey the site, recommend camera positions, install and configure the system, and set up viewing on your phone. Use the CCTV planner to send your plan and request a call back.