Sixty-one percent of American households now have at least one security camera installed, up from 52% just two years ago, putting cameras in an estimated 74.9 million homes nationwide, according to SafeHome.org’s 2026 home security industry report. That nine-percentage-point jump in two years is being driven disproportionately by renters, whose adoption rate climbed a full 12 points in a single year, the sharpest single-year gain in the report’s dataset.
Adoption Has Crossed 60% Nationally
Video doorbells specifically now sit in 48% of U.S. households, or roughly 58.9 million homes, up from 45% in 2024, per SafeHome.org’s data. The broader camera category (doorbells plus standalone indoor and outdoor units) has grown fast enough that it’s now closer to the norm than the exception in American homes, a shift from just a few years ago when security cameras were still considered a premium add-on rather than standard equipment. Separate market research tracking the wider home security camera industry found wireless systems now account for roughly 60% of the category, according to a 2026 industry market analysis, with video doorbell cameras posting the fastest projected growth rate of any camera segment through 2031.
Renters Are Closing the Gap With Homeowners
Security camera adoption among renters jumped from 42% to 54% in a single year, according to SafeHome.org, a bigger single-year swing than any other segment tracked in the report. That’s a meaningful shift for a category historically associated with homeownership, since wired security systems traditionally required the kind of permanent installation a landlord would need to approve. The rise tracks closely with the growth of battery-powered, peel-and-stick and plug-in cameras that don’t require drilling into walls or running wiring, letting renters add security devices the same way they’d add any other portable appliance and take them along at move-out.
DIY Installation Has Overtaken Professional Setup
For the first time, more people are installing their own security systems than hiring a professional to do it: 49% of current alarm system users installed their systems themselves, compared with 42% who paid for professional installation, per SafeHome.org. A separate 2026 Security.org study found the preference runs even further in that direction among shoppers broadly, with 51% preferring DIY installation against 26% who actively prefer professional setup, and 74% of people currently using professional installation say they’ve at least considered switching to DIY. Cost and flexibility are the likely drivers: DIY systems typically carry no installation fee and no long-term monitoring contract, and 71% of consumers in the Security.org survey said they specifically want contract-free options.
One Brand Dominates the Category
Ring holds 43% of the camera and security system market among current users, far outpacing ADT at 10% and Google Nest at 7%, according to SafeHome.org’s brand breakdown. That concentration matters for the DIY trend broadly: Ring’s product line was built from the start around self-installation and app-based monitoring rather than professional contracts, and its market dominance has helped normalize the idea that a homeowner or renter can set up meaningful home security in an afternoon without a technician visit.
What’s Pulling More Households Into the Category
Beyond convenience, the report found 87% of camera owners say the devices increase their peace of mind, and 28% already use AI-powered person or package detection features that distinguish a delivery driver from an intruder or a stray animal. A separate market analysis projects the broader home security camera market to grow from roughly $27.4 billion in 2026 to $55.2 billion by 2031, a pace the report attributes to rising smart-home adoption, package-theft concerns and insurance discounts for verified monitoring systems. Not every household is moving in lockstep, though: 12% of current users told SafeHome.org they’ve delayed upgrading their systems specifically because of rising costs, a reminder that even a fast-growing, increasingly renter-friendly category still has a price ceiling some households are hitting.
Two years ago, a home security camera was still something roughly half of American households had. Today it’s the majority position, and the fastest-growing segment isn’t homeowners buying more elaborate systems: it’s renters adding a device that used to require a landlord’s permission and now just requires an outlet.
