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What Budget Do You Need for Your Target Security Level

For a 2,000 sq ft home at a standard protection level, expect to budget roughly $7,000 with a typical regional cost factor. The budget splits across cameras (~35%), door and window sensors (~25%), access control and smart locks (~20%), and monitoring setup plus first-year service (~20%). Larger homes and higher tiers (premium or fortress) scale the total up quickly, while a basic tier can land near $1.5 per sq ft.

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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 model cost per square foot for each protection tier as an assumption: basic $1.5, standard $3.5, premium $6, and fortress $10 per sq ft. Multiplying by your home area gives a raw budget, then a regional cost factor (0.85x, 1.0x, or 1.25x) adjusts for local labor and equipment pricing. The total is then split into four components using fixed shares: cameras 35%, sensors 25%, access and locks 20%, and monitoring (equipment plus first-year service) 20%. These shares are planning assumptions, not vendor quotes.

What Should You Do?

Start by deciding the tier that matches your actual risk, not the biggest number. A basic tier already deters most opportunistic burglars, while premium and fortress tiers pay off for high-value homes or rural properties. Get at least two local installer quotes to validate the per-sq-ft assumption for your area, since regional labor varies widely. Remember monitoring is a recurring cost, so fold the monthly fee into your long-term budget, not just year one.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are these per-square-foot numbers real quotes?

No. They are planning assumptions based on typical component counts per tier. Always confirm with local installers, because equipment brands and labor rates vary.

Why is monitoring only one year in the budget?

Monitoring is a recurring subscription. We show year one so the upfront budget is clear; multiply the monthly fee by 12 for each additional year.

Does a bigger home always cost more?

Yes, because more area means more cameras, sensors, and entry points. But the per-sq-ft rate stays similar unless you choose a higher tier.

What tier should a typical suburban home pick?

Standard covers most suburban needs: several cameras, door and window sensors, and smart locks. Move to premium only if you have high-value possessions or live rural.

How do I lower the budget?

Choose a lower tier, reduce camera count to key entry points, or self-install where allowed. Compare DIY vs professional install on this site to see the tradeoff.

Is the regional factor accurate?

It is a rough 0.85x to 1.25x adjustment. Use average unless you know your local labor market is clearly above or below the norm.