Free Budgeting Tool

Know What to Budget.
Understand What You Are Buying.

Most security quotes hide the real cost. This tool shows you entry level versus enterprise pricing side by side, explains the total cost of ownership difference, and gives you an honest budget estimate — no sales pitch, no obligation.

⚠ Indicative only — not a formal quotation. Figures are budget-range estimates from typical UK deployments and are not binding. Actual costs depend on a site survey and site-specific conditions. See our Terms of Use for full details.
Entry Level CCTV — same specs, higher long-term cost
Enterprise CCTV — lasts 50% longer, better AI and analytics
Access Control — enterprise only, priced per door
1What do you need?
Select the systems you want to budget for. You can choose one or both.
2CCTV System Configuration
Choose your system tier and camera count. We will explain the real difference below.
System Tier
Number of Cameras
The Honest Difference
Entry Level
Same resolution and image quality as Enterprise
Lower initial purchase cost
Hardware degrades faster outdoors
Typically needs full replacement every 36 months
Limited AI and analytics capability
Higher total cost of ownership over 5+ years
Enterprise
Same resolution and image quality as Entry Level
Higher initial purchase cost
Built for harsh outdoor environments
Lasts 50% longer — typically 5+ years without replacement
Advanced AI: loitering, line crossing, people counting
Lower total cost of ownership over time
Our honest view: Entry Level CCTV is a perfectly good choice for many schools and public sector buildings, especially where budget is constrained. The key is going in with eyes open about replacement cycles. If you are planning to stay in the building for 5+ years, Enterprise is almost always the better financial decision once total cost of ownership is factored in.
Total Cost of Ownership — 10 Year View
This chart shows the estimated total spend over 10 years for your selected camera count, including the cost of replacing Entry Level cameras every 36 months.
Entry Level (with replacements)
Enterprise
Select a camera count to see the total cost of ownership comparison.
Your Budget Estimate
Indicative costs — exact quotes require a site survey

Configure your system above to see a budget estimate here

About These Estimates
All figures are indicative budgetary estimates based on typical installations of similar size and complexity. Actual costs will vary depending on your specific site, building layout, cable runs, existing infrastructure and specification. These estimates include supply, installation and commissioning. They do not include ongoing maintenance contracts, monitoring fees or VAT. A free site survey is required for an accurate, costed proposal.
Why We Show Both Options
Some companies will quote Entry Level CCTV at a low price and tell you the specification is identical to Enterprise — which is often technically true for resolution and image quality. What they do not tell you is that outdoor hardware degrades differently, replacement cycles differ significantly, and AI analytics capability is not comparable. We believe informed customers make better long-term decisions, and we would rather earn your trust than win a price comparison.
About This Tool

Security costs: common questions

In short: the cost estimator gives an indicative budget for CCTV and access control based on camera and door numbers, and compares entry-level and enterprise equipment on total cost of ownership, not just purchase price. Free to use with no registration. Figures are budget ranges from typical UK deployments; a site survey sets the actual price.

How much does CCTV and access control cost for a UK school?

Costs vary with site size and specification. As a rough guide, a small primary school may need £15,000 to £30,000, and a large secondary school or trust site £50,000 to £150,000 or more. The estimator narrows that range for your camera and door count.

What is included in total cost of ownership?

The installation, then everything after it: maintenance visits, software licences, monitoring, repairs and eventual replacement. Cheaper equipment often costs more over five years because it fails or needs replacing sooner.

Why are two quotes for the same number of cameras so different?

Usually because they are not the same system. Check the camera resolution and lens for each position, the recording retention period, whether analytics are included, the warranty, and whether cabling, network switches, commissioning and documentation are in the price.

Is the estimate a quotation?

No. It is an indicative budget to help with planning and approval. A fixed quotation follows a site survey; the annual security audit is £495 plus VAT per site and is credited against any works.