HOME SECURITY ESTIMATOR
Protection that fits the way you live.
Choose your coverage and see an instant estimate for professional installation. Then request a free, personalized quote from your local Cunningham team.
03 / MADE FOR YOUR HOME
Your protection, your choices.
These are starting suggestions. Adjust them here, and we’ll help confirm the right coverage.
Suggested equipment
Motion detectors may cover more than one entry route. Glassbreak coverage depends on the room layout. Our team confirms device locations and compatibility.
We’ll review your pets and detector placement when preparing your firm quote.
LET’S MAKE IT A PLAN
Get your free official quote.
Share your contact details and our local team will review your selections, confirm the design, and prepare a personalized quote. No cost. No obligation.
What might a 2,000 sq. ft. home cost?
A new IQ5 wireless system for a two-level home with a basement, three entry doors, one upstairs stairway and two bathrooms is estimated at $2,273 installed, with monitoring starting at $40.00/month. This example uses our suggested intrusion, water and freeze coverage, with no individual window contacts or monitored smoke detectors. It assumes a one-year monitoring agreement, then month-to-month. Tax, permits and freight are separate. Adjust the calculator for your home.
Home Security System Cost Calculator
Cunningham Security · Serving New England since 1983
Estimate equipment, professional installation, and monthly monitoring for your home. Adjust your coverage, see the price, and request a free official quote when you’re ready.
- No contact details to see pricing
- Local installation in Maine, NH & Massachusetts
- Free quote · No obligation
Instant installation estimates apply to the standard new wireless system. Wired systems, hybrid systems, existing-system takeovers, and overhead garage-door protection need a tailored quote. See how we calculate the price.
Understand your budget
How much does a home security system cost?
A professionally installed home security system has two main costs: equipment and installation upfront, plus ongoing monitoring. Your total depends on the number and type of devices, the work needed to install them, and the protection you want. Square footage helps, but doors, room layout, wiring access, and time spent away from home can matter just as much.
For a concrete starting point, the calculator estimates about $2,273 installed and $40/month for the example home below. This is a Cunningham estimate built from specific equipment and labor allowances, not a national average or a fixed package everyone needs.
| Example configuration | Equipment | Labor | Installed total | Monitoring |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Suggested intrusion, water & freeze coverage | $1,322.85 | $950 | $2,272.85 | $40/mo |
| Same system, plus 10 individual window contacts | $1,762.25 | $1,450 | $3,212.25 | $40/mo |
| First example, plus 6 monitored smoke/heat and 3 CO detectors | $2,534.55 | $1,400 | $3,934.55 | $46/mo |
The first example includes one IQ Panel 5, three door contacts, four motion detectors, two glassbreak detectors, three water sensors, and one freeze detector. The third example assumes three bedrooms and no individual window contacts. These are calculator scenarios, not completed jobs or approved coverage designs. Taxes, permits, and freight are separate; installation pricing assumes monitoring. The calculator displays the installed total rounded to a whole dollar.
Adjust the estimator for your own home to see how different choices change the budget.
Clear pricing, explained
How Cunningham calculates equipment and installation costs
Professional labor: $150 per hour
Cunningham’s installation labor rate is $150 per hour. For a standard new wireless system, the estimator starts with two hours for base system setup, then adds 20 minutes per additional device.
It also allows for scheduling longer installations: when calculated labor exceeds 6½ hours, it charges at least eight hours; when it exceeds 14 hours, it charges at least 16. Time above those allowances is retained. For example, seven calculated hours becomes eight billed hours, while ten calculated hours remains ten.
Your official quote confirms the installation scope. Finished walls, difficult access, wire routes, detached buildings, and unusual mounting conditions can change the work required.
Equipment pricing includes more than the part
Cunningham applies a reasonable markup to equipment. That pricing includes the programming associated with integrating the equipment into your system, a minimum one-year warranty, and professional support with Cunningham monitoring.
You are buying equipment selected to work together, with a team responsible for helping you use and maintain the system. The estimator lists installation labor separately so you can understand the overall cost.
Your written quote and agreement describe warranty coverage and service terms. Professional support does not mean every future repair or on-site visit is included at no additional charge.
Monthly alarm monitoring
The estimator starts at $40 per month for professional monitoring. Adding monitored smoke detectors adds $6 per month per system, not per detector. The initial agreement is one year, followed by month-to-month monitoring.
The standard wireless estimate includes IP and cellular alarm communication. We confirm the appropriate communication path and service plan for your property. Learn about Cunningham alarm monitoring.
What needs a separate quote?
Wired and hybrid installations need a review of cable routes, device compatibility, and labor. Existing systems need a compatibility check before we recommend what to reuse. Overhead garage doors also require a tailored review.
Camera systems, video monitoring, smart locks, automatic water shutoff, and other integrations are additional options to discuss with your designer. They are not included in the displayed alarm-system total. Taxes, permit fees, and freight are also separate.
A system designed around your life
Good security starts with the right system design
Cunningham uses a team of qualified, experienced system designers to make your equipment work together and maximize the safety, security, and usefulness of your system. We combine your priorities with the realities of the property, then explain the choices that affect your price.
Your property and daily routine
Entry doors, accessible windows, basement walkouts, garages, and room layout shape the design. We consider which areas should remain protected while you are home, how family members enter and leave, and how pets may affect motion-detector selection and placement.
Compatibility and reliable operation
Panels, sensors, keypads, communicators, and connected devices must be compatible. Your designer considers coverage, system capacity, communication paths, backup power, and future expansion. Existing wiring may be useful, but reusing it should follow inspection and testing. See our wired versus wireless security guide.
Insurance requirements
Tell us if your insurer has requested monitored burglary protection, fire detection, water monitoring, or specific documentation. We can design around the requirements you provide. Some insurers offer protective-device discounts, but eligibility and savings vary; Travelers’ discount guidance is one example. Confirm your own requirements with your agent before choosing equipment.
Second homes and time away
For a seasonal property, a heating problem or water leak may go unnoticed between visits. We consider low-temperature and water detection, monitored smoke and CO options, remote access, and a practical contact plan for someone nearby. Camera and smart-lock options can help you check arrivals and manage access. Alarm.com’s second-home guide explains several of these remote-management uses.
Life safety and environmental protection
The calculator’s smoke and CO counts are planning allowances. Required coverage, suitable equipment, placement, and notification need a professional review. NFPA recommends smoke alarms in bedrooms, outside sleeping areas, and on every level. A calculator cannot determine whether your existing alarms or proposed additions satisfy the requirements for your home.
Your budget and long-term plans
We help you prioritize protection, identify useful existing equipment, and consider future additions. A clear design lets you understand what each option accomplishes and where spending more would provide a practical benefit.
Have existing equipment? Our alarm system takeover service can help determine whether it makes sense to retain it.
Local pricing. A useful reference wherever you live.
Home security pricing for Maine, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts
For New England homeowners
Cunningham serves customers in Maine, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts. The estimator reflects our equipment selection, labor rate, and monitoring model for customers within our New England service area.
Older homes, finished basements, coastal properties, seasonal residences, and new construction can present different installation needs. Share your property details so we can confirm service availability and prepare an appropriate design. Find your Cunningham office.
Using this estimate elsewhere in the U.S.
You can use this home security price estimator as a reference when planning a project or comparing proposals in another region. It helps show how equipment choices, installation work, and monthly service contribute to a price.
It is not a national average or a nationwide installation offer. Actual prices vary by region, company, system design, equipment, and service agreement. A similar total can also represent a very different level of coverage or support.
A better way to compare
Compare the full cost of a home security system
A low advertised installation price may be tied to equipment payments or a longer service commitment. When comparing alarm companies, ask for equipment, installation, recurring charges, and agreement terms separately. Providers’ own monitoring information and plan comparisons illustrate why monthly plans should also be compared by what they include.
For example, the first configuration above costs $3,712.85 over three years before tax, permits, freight, or other charges: $2,272.85 upfront plus 36 months at $40. That is a comparison illustration assuming unchanged monitoring pricing, not a three-year contract or rate guarantee.
| Compare this | Ask each provider |
|---|---|
| Equipment and coverage | Which models, quantities, and locations are included? Is equipment purchased, financed, or rented? |
| Installation and setup | Does the price include mounting, wiring, programming, testing, and showing me how to use the system? |
| Monthly service | What monitoring, communication, app, and video features are included? Which cost extra? |
| Agreement terms | What is the initial term? How do renewal, cancellation, and future price changes work? |
| Warranty and support | What is covered, for how long, and who helps if something stops working? Are service visits extra? |
| Other costs | Are taxes, permits, freight, batteries, financing charges, and future maintenance included or separate? |
Comparing a DIY kit with a professionally designed installation? Include your own setup time, the same device quantities, and equivalent monitoring features. There is no universal price that represents both approaches.
Keep or share your comparison: Use “Print / save estimate” in the calculator to keep your selections. If you are sharing this resource with a homeowner, client, or reader, link to this page so they can adjust the estimate for their property.
Common questions
Home security cost FAQs
Is the calculator a binding installation quote?
No. It is a planning estimate based on your answers and selected equipment. Submit your estimate for a free official quote. A Cunningham expert will review your property, coverage, compatibility, installation needs, and service availability before finalizing the proposal.
How much does it cost to install a security system in a 2,000 sq. ft. home?
The example on this page is about $2,273 installed, plus $40 per month for monitoring. It includes the listed intrusion, water, and freeze devices. A house of the same size can cost more or less depending on its entry points, room layout, desired coverage, and installation conditions. Use the calculator to change the quantities.
Does every sensor increase the monthly monitoring price?
No. In this estimator, additional door contacts, motion detectors, and water sensors increase equipment and installation cost without adding an individual monthly monitoring charge. Monitored smoke detection adds $6 per month once per system. Video and other service options need a separate quote.
Does wireless security mean the system relies only on Wi-Fi?
No. “Wireless” here describes the connection between compatible alarm sensors and the panel. That is separate from the panel’s connection to monitoring. The standard wireless estimate includes IP and cellular communication; we confirm signal availability, setup, and backup arrangements for the property.
Can I reduce the cost by reusing my existing alarm?
Possibly. Usable wiring or compatible devices may reduce the work and equipment needed. Panel age, device condition, programming access, communication hardware, and compatibility determine what can be retained. Choose “Reuse an existing system” in the estimator and tell us what you have.
Are security cameras included in this estimate?
No. The estimator prices the selected alarm and detection equipment. Tell us you are interested in cameras when you request your quote. Camera placement, recording, network requirements, and any video-monitoring service are designed and priced separately.
Do I have to provide my contact information to see a price?
No. You can calculate, adjust, and print a standard wireless estimate without providing your name, email address, or phone number. Contact details are requested when you choose to ask Cunningham for an official quote.
Can homeowners outside New England use the calculator?
Yes, as a budgeting reference. The rates reflect Cunningham’s service model for Maine, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts. Other companies’ prices may differ because of local labor costs, equipment, system design, and contract terms.
Turn your estimate into the right protection.
Share your selections for a free official quote. A Cunningham expert will help you refine the design, answer your questions, and plan a system that fits your home.
