Reverse Calculator

What Security Level Can Your Budget Buy

With a $2,000 budget on a 2,000 sq ft home in an average-cost area, you can afford a basic tier (about $1.5 per sq ft, or $3,000 for standard would be needed). Your budget covers roughly $1.00 per sq ft, which falls short of standard. To reach standard you would need about $1,000 more; premium and fortress require far larger budgets. The calculator shows the exact shortfall to the next tier.

Results

Visualization

SecurFig provides illustrative budget estimates only. Prices, crime rates, and effectiveness figures are assumptions for planning, not quotes or guarantees. Consult a licensed security professional and verify local crime statistics before making decisions. This is not professional security or financial advice.

How It Works

We convert your budget into an achievable cost-per-square-foot by dividing budget by area and the regional factor. Each tier has a per-sq-ft threshold (basic 1.5, standard 3.5, premium 6, fortress 10). We walk the tiers from cheapest to most expensive and keep the highest one whose threshold is at or below your achievable rate. The chart plots each tier's full cost next to your flat budget line, making the gap to the next tier obvious.

What Should You Do?

If your budget lands between tiers, consider stretching to the next tier only if the added coverage addresses a real risk (e.g., rural = cameras, urban = access control). Otherwise, spend the surplus on a better monitoring plan or stronger doors and locks, which often beats a marginal tier upgrade. Re-run with a slightly higher budget to see exactly how much more unlocks the next level.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does achievable tier none mean?

Your budget per square foot is below the basic tier threshold, so it cannot fund even a basic system. Raise the budget or reduce the covered area.

Why does regional factor matter here?

It scales every tier cost. In a high-cost area your same budget buys a lower tier than in a low-cost area.

Is the shortfall exact?

It is the difference between the next tier's modeled cost and your budget. Real quotes may differ, so treat it as a planning estimate.

Should I finance a higher tier?

Only if the loss you are protecting against justifies it. Compare against the theft-loss simulator on this site first.

Can I mix tiers?

Yes. Many homes use basic cameras everywhere plus premium locks on main entries. This tool shows whole-tier ceilings for simplicity.