Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Home Maintenance

How to build your own home security system without breaking the bank

Build a DIY home security system and keep your home and family safe

Veronica Sparks
By

Protecting your family and your valuables doesn’t have to weigh so heavily on your mind. Having a great home security system can provide much-needed peace of mind, and there are a couple of routes you can take when it comes to installing one. You can hire a professional security company that will install the system’s equipment and provide monitoring services. These services notify both you and the authorities if a breach occurs. If you’d rather not pay professional prices, you can go the DIY route.

We are going to review how to build your own home security system today, but first, we want to go over the benefits of a DIY home security system.

Related Videos

Difficulty

Moderate

Duration

1 hour

What You Need

  • Home security system control panel

  • Desired security components (sensors, cameras, keypads, etc.)

  • Smartphone

  • Any tools not included with purchased products

You may be asking, when it comes to your home’s security, why not leave it to the professionals? While building your own security system may seem like a hefty task, it’s actually quite simple. You can purchase a DIY home security starter kit or you can buy all the components separately, and both methods are easy to install with instructions to help guide you. The DIY route has a couple of other benefits as well.

Family sitting on the floor near white couch

Building your own home security system costs less

A DIY home security system can cost as low as a few hundred dollars and up to about $1,300 if you opt for environmental detectors. A professional security company charges almost double that price on average. Then, if you add in monitoring services, which you can also purchase separately on a DIY system, you’ll pay an additional $10 to $40 per month.

When it comes to the most bang for your buck, building your own security system will save you some cash.

home security

DIY home security systems allow for customization

While a professional home security company typically installs all of their own products, when you build your own security system, you can pick and choose products from various companies in order to make your system meet your preferences.

You can also add in or opt out of additional features like video cameras, keyless entry, and motion detectors. If you want a bare-bones system or a technical marvel, building your own system allows for customization.

Home security camera system with phone footage

What features should you have with a DIY home security system?

Keyless entry

Access to your home can be secured by keypad, key fob, fingerprint, or even smart phone entry. Keyless entry systems often have smart technology, allowing you to grant temporary access and get notifications when your home is accessed.

Window and door sensors

Sensors are triggered by motion and should be placed at knob level on every entry door as well as on every window. They are triggered either by physical movement or by body heat detection.

Video cameras

Cameras can be placed anywhere in your home, but the best place is at entryways. Many security cameras record only when movement is detected and allow you to access video footage right on your phone.

Environmental systems

Home safety isn’t just about preventing intruders. You can integrate smoke, carbon monoxide, and any other detectors right into your security system to notify you when a harmful situation is at hand.

Control panel

The control panel is the brain of your home security system. Each component is wirelessly connected to your control panel, which is notified when security is breached. The control panel then sends a notification to your smartphone or your monitoring service, or it sounds building alarms.

Security camera attached to the home

How to build a home security system

Installing your DIY home security system may have several steps to the process but all are easy to complete and will require few tools, depending on the type of components you purchase. Each component should have instructions included, but here are some tips for proper installation.

Home security keypad

Set up your control panel and app

Step 1: First, determine the best place to set up your control panel. It should be in a central, accessible location near your wireless router and a power source. You’ll also want to download a compatible mobile app to be able to monitor and get notifications on your phone.

Step 2: Before installing your various components, be sure they are paired with the control panel and your app so that you don’t have to uninstall if something isn’t working properly.

Related
Silver door handle with keypad entry

Install sensors, keypad, detectors, and cameras

All of the different components of your DIY security system should come with their own tools for installation, whether that’s a double-sided adhesive or screws and nuts.

Step 1: Decide where you'll install door and window sensors and how many you'll need to install. Ideally, you will have motion sensors at every entry door as well as all first-floor windows.

Step 2: Your keyless entry device, like a keypad, should be installed on the door you use most frequently, whether that’s the front, back, or garage door.

Step 3: Cameras should definitely be installed at all entry doors, but you can also install them in various rooms in your home if you want to keep an eye on your valuables.

Step 4: Smoke and carbon monoxide detectors should be installed in every room of the house.

Keeping your family, your belongings, and your home safe from intruders and other dangers is always a concern, and having a home security system can alleviate some stress. You don’t have to spend a fortune to get great security, and you can build your own home security system with ease, comfort, and without breaking the bank.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Keys vs. keyless: Which front door entry system is safer?
Here's what you need to know about key vs. keyless entry
Front door view

Smart technology -- particularly for the home -- continues to hit the market with a splash. We don't just have smart handheld devices anymore. We now have smart security systems, smart robot vacuums, and even smart kitchen appliances. However, when it comes to your front door security, which is safer when it comes to traditional keys vs. keyless entry smart locks?

To answer this question, the biggest factor to consider is who will be requiring access to the door. The next factor is what kind of climate and weather conditions are common in your area. Finally, the last question you need to ask yourself is: What does your budget look like for this project? We'll help you navigate the pros and cons of each access option so you can be confident in your family's safety at home.

Read more
Why your home should have an areca palm (and how to care for it)
Tips for properly caring for an indoor areca palm plant
how to grow areca palm decorative near white brick wall

Your indoor plants should reflect your unique style and integrate seamlessly with your home's decor. Indoor palms are a joy for anyone wanting to bring a piece of the greenery from warmer climates into their interior design. If you're looking for a bold, tropical addition to your indoor space, an areca palm is a perfect choice. With their substantial height and sharp, feathery foliage, these palms add a fresh and bright statement to any room.

Is the areca palm a good indoor plant?
Not only does an areca palm bring a mood-lifting splash of the tropics into your home, but it also offers numerous health benefits. This attractive palm can improve indoor air quality by removing toxins and adding humidity to the air, which is great if your indoor air tends to be a bit dry. Caring for a living thing, like this palm, is also a mood booster.

Read more
How to install a security light with a motion sensor in 3 easy steps
how to install security lights shutterstock 1340722961

Your home is your haven, and it should be where you and your family feel the safest. Keeping your home protected with a home security system is the most comprehensive way to guard it, but if you're not ready for that financial commitment, you can always install a motion-detecting security light outside. To answer any questions you may have, we'll discuss the benefits of motion sensor lights and how to install them quickly so you and your family can sleep a little easier.

Benefits of a security light with a motion sensor
While they don't come with all the bells and whistles of a complete home security system, outdoor motion sensor security lights give you a lot of bang for your buck when it comes to keeping your home secure.
Improve security
Of course, the primary benefit of a security light with a motion sensor is that it deters would-be intruders. Not only would an intruder be caught off-guard by the sudden burst of light, but they are likely to retreat and move along since they don't want to be seen.
Promote safety
Falls happen in the driveways and walkways of homes not only when the ground is wet or iced over, but also when it's too dark to see any trip hazards. With a motion sensor light, every time you enter or exit your home, you can be confident that you'll have a light to illuminate the way, preventing slips, trips, and falls.
Convenience
Outdoor motion sensor lights also mean you don't have to remember to turn your outdoor lights on and off every time the sun goes down or a guest arrives. The light simply turns on when your movement is detected, with no effort on your part.
Budget-friendly
Since full home security systems can be pricey, motion sensor security lights present a more economical way to secure the home without breaking the bank.
Where to install motion sensor lights
For the motion sensor on your outdoor security light to be most effective, install it in a location with no obstructions, like trees or parked cars, that would otherwise prevent it from sensing movements in the area.  Ensure the sensor is approximately 10 feet above ground level and in such a position where any movement that occurs in the area will travel across the motion detector instead of moving directly toward or away from it. Cross movement is more easily detected by the sensor, so make sure it's perpendicular to any walking path.

Read more