If you are planning a CCTV system for your home or small business in Ontario, you want straight numbers, no fluff, and zero surprises. This guide gives you realistic price ranges for 2025, what drives quotes up or down,
and how to compare proposals like a pro. You will also see how Eagle View keeps systems affordable without cutting corners, and why a 3‑year warranty with 24/7 support can save you money over the life of your
system.
Quick answer: what you should expect to pay
- Single camera install with recording: $350 to $800 per camera for basic setups, more if wiring is difficult or if you choose premium cameras.
- Four camera package with NVR: $1,200 to $2,400 installed for typical homes, $2,500 to $4,000 for larger homes or small businesses with longer cable runs, conduit, or mounting on masonry.
- Eight camera package with NVR: $2,200 to $4,500 installed for most properties, $4,500 to $7,000 for complex sites or where lifts, trenching, or extensive conduit are needed.
- Cloud camera systems: often $200 to $500 per camera upfront plus $10 to $25 per camera per month for storage, which can outpace NVR costs after 2 to 3 years.
- Add‑ons that affect price: doorbell cameras ($200 to $450 installed if integrated), intercom tie‑in ($500 to $2,000 depending on hardware), surge protection ($80 to $200 per location), UPS battery backup ($150 to $400 for NVR plus switch), permits when lifts or exterior conduit run on commercial facades ($0 to $400 in most municipalities; confirm locally).
These ranges include typical hardware, pro installation, and setup on a mobile app. Taxes vary by location.
Equipment vs labour: what your quote actually covers
Your invoice has two main parts.
- Equipment: cameras, lenses, NVR or cloud licenses, hard drives, PoE switches or power supplies, mounting boxes, patch cables, and accessories. Good 4K turret or bullet cameras run $120 to $300 each. Varifocal or license plate cameras can be $250 to $600 each. A reliable NVR with a 2 TB to 6 TB drive runs $250 to $700. Quality PoE switch: $80 to $200.
- Labour and materials: site walk, cable pulling, drilling, sealant, conduit or raceway, terminations, patching, cleanup, configuration, app onboarding, and training. Labour is the big swing factor. A simple attic run might take 45 minutes. A finished basement with no access can take 2 to 3 hours per drop and require surface raceways or fishing walls.
If you see a quote that looks much lower, it often excludes better hard drives, surge protection, weatherproof junction boxes, or post‑install support. If you see a higher quote, it may include premium cameras, longer
warranty, or complex wiring allowances. Ask what is included.
Single camera vs 4 and 8 camera packages
- One camera: expect $350 to $800 installed if adding to an existing NVR. If you need a new NVR and storage for a single camera, the bundle can land at $650 to $1,100.
- Four camera package: the sweet spot for homes. Most fall between $1,200 and $2,400 installed with a 2 TB to 4 TB NVR, remote app, and clean cable runs.
- Eight camera package: covers full perimeter and key interior points. Most installs land at $2,200 to $4,500 with a 4 TB to 6 TB NVR. More if you add long exterior runs, soffit repairs, or specialty cameras like varifocal or color‑night models.
Tip: the per‑camera price drops as you scale because the NVR, PoE switch, and setup time spread across more cameras.
NVR vs cloud: which costs less to own
- NVR systems: higher upfront, low ongoing cost. You pay for the recorder and a larger drive. No monthly fees for local recording. You can still enable remote viewing through the app.
- Cloud systems: lower upfront, predictable monthly fees. Great for a small number of cameras where you value simple remote access and sharing. Long term, monthly storage can exceed the cost of an NVR at around the 24 to 36 month mark, especially above four cameras.
For most homes and small businesses in Ontario, an NVR delivers the best long‑term value without giving up remote access.
What affects quotes the most
- Wiring complexity: finished ceilings, brick or stone mounting, long exterior runs, or fishing through tight cavities increase labour.
- Camera choice: 4K resolution, varifocal zoom, starlight colour at night, audio mics, or license plate recognition cost more.
- Network and power: new PoE switch, rack mounting, patch panels, or power upgrades add cost.
- Building type: commercial sites can need permits, lifts, out‑of‑hours work, or fire‑stopping.
- Add‑ons: doorbell cameras, intercom integration, surge protection at each exterior drop, and UPS backup.
- Warranty and support: a longer warranty plus 24/7 support has higher upfront cost but protects you from downtime and service calls later.
Is CCTV expensive to run
Not usually. IP cameras and an NVR draw modest power. A typical four to eight camera system with PoE runs roughly 25 to 70 watts total. At Ontario electricity rates, that is often $4 to $12 per month. Cloud systems add
subscription fees, which can exceed power costs. The largest ongoing cost is usually storage subscriptions or occasional service calls, not electricity.
Why do some quotes seem expensive
Several reasons:
- Proper cabling and weatherproofing take time. Cheap quotes often skip junction boxes, sealant, or drip loops that protect your system outdoors.
- Reliable storage is not free. Surveillance‑grade hard drives cost more but last longer.
- Good support matters. A real 3‑year warranty and 24/7 support team cost money to deliver, yet they save you when a camera fails during a critical moment.
- Integration: tying CCTV into intercom or access control requires extra configuration and testing.
Paying for solid installation and support prevents repeat truck rolls, missed evidence due to failed storage, and downtime when you need footage.
Realistic scenarios and 2025 price ranges
- Small bungalow, four exterior cameras on soffits, easy attic access, 2 TB NVR, app setup: $1,400 to $1,900 installed.
- Two‑storey detached, six mixed cameras, two stone mounts, longer runs, 4 TB NVR, surge protection, UPS: $2,600 to $3,600.
- Small retail unit, eight cameras including two varifocal for cash and entry, 6 TB NVR, surface conduit, after‑hours install: $3,800 to $5,500.
- Office with existing network rack, four interior and four exterior cameras, intercom tie‑in, permit for exterior conduit: $4,200 to $6,200.
Your site may vary based on distances, finishes, and camera types.
Permits and add‑ons to plan for
- Permits: residential installs rarely need permits. Commercial exterior conduit, signage, or lift work can trigger permits or landlord approvals. Budget $0 to $400 plus possible admin time.
- Doorbell camera: $200 to $450 when integrated with the NVR and app.
- Intercom tie‑in: $500 to $2,000 based on audio vs video and door release. If you are in Oakville and comparing options, see intercom installation oakville for local integration guidance.
- Surge protection: $80 to $200 per drop or panel side, especially important for exterior cameras.
- UPS battery backup: $150 to $400 to keep the NVR and PoE switch running during short outages.
How Eagle View keeps costs fair without cutting corners
- Economical hardware that is field proven: we standardize on reliable cameras and surveillance‑grade storage that lower failure rates.
- Clean cabling practices: proper junction boxes, sealant, drip loops, and strain relief reduce service calls.
- Right‑sized designs: we recommend the camera count and storage you actually need, not bloated equipment lists.
- Setup and training included: you leave with the mobile app working on your phone and desktop, with remote access configured securely.
- Real coverage: 3‑year warranty on all work and 24/7 hassle‑free support. When a device fails, you are not left waiting.
If you are comparing local options, explore security camera installation mississauga for an overview of packages, or if you are nearby, security camera installation in brampton outlines service details for Peel region.
Simple checklist to compare quotes
Use this to evaluate any proposal in minutes.
- Camera specs listed by model, resolution, lens type, night performance, and weather rating
- NVR model, drive size, and whether the hard drive is surveillance‑grade
- Cable type and pathway, number of drops, and whether junction boxes and sealant are included
- Surge protection and UPS listed, or a note explaining why they are not needed
- App setup, remote access configuration, and user training included
- Warranty length and what it covers for parts, labour, and on‑site service
- Timeline, cleanup, and any permit or lift fees itemized
- Total price, taxes, and any monthly fees for cloud storage or service plans.
Your questions, answered
- How much should I pay for CCTV installation? For most Ontario homes, four camera packages land at $1,200 to $2,400 installed. Small businesses typically see $2,500 to $5,000 for six to eight cameras with
- better storage and wiring.
- How much does it cost to install one CCTV? If adding a single camera to an existing NVR, expect $350 to $800 depending on access and camera choice.
- How much do CCTV cameras cost to install? Per‑camera installed pricing usually ranges from $300 to $700 in a multi‑camera package, higher for varifocal or specialty models.
- What is the average cost of installing security cameras? The common Ontario average in 2025 is $1,800 to $3,200 for a four to six camera system with an NVR.
- Is CCTV expensive to run? Power costs are modest, often $4 to $12 per month. Cloud storage can add $10 to $25 per camera per month if you choose a subscription model.
- Why is CCTV so expensive? Quality hardware, secure cabling, weatherproofing, surveillance‑grade drives, and professional setup with warranty and support drive cost. These factors reduce failures and protect
- your footage when it matters.
Final take
A fair 2025 CCTV quote in Ontario will clearly show equipment, labour, and add‑ons, and it will explain how your system is supported after install. Expect $1,200 to $2,400 for a solid four camera NVR package, and scale
from there based on complexity. Choose a partner that designs to your needs, installs cleanly, and stands behind the work.
Eagle View delivers high‑quality, economical systems with a 3‑year warranty and 24/7 support, so you get reliable coverage without overspending. If you want to compare a tailored quote or integrate with intercom,
access control, or future upgrades, our team is ready to help.