Most people don’t know how powerful their home security cameras are. The Ring doorbell is a great example of this. It has a camera that is specifically designed to see things in low light and at a distance. So, how far can a Ring doorbell see? Well, wonder no more! We did some research to find out how far these devices can detect movement.
How Far Can Doorbell Security Cameras See?
First, there’s the angle you want to consider which is the field of view. This is the view that a Ring Doorbell (or security camera) can see and it’s measured in degrees.
The second thing you need to know is how much glass your door has. The thickness of glass will affect how far away you can see through the door as will the light conditions.
When we discuss how far a ring doorbell camera can see, we usually mean how much glass it can look through. If you want to see in the dark, you’re probably going to need an infrared security camera that is designed specifically for that purpose.
Normally it can see from one end of the door to the other very easily, but this may also show you the far-away image but it may be blurry.
The field of view for Ring Doorbell is 180 degrees which means it can see from one end of your door to the other, but whether or not it will show you a clear image on the other side depends on several factors.
What Determines How Far a Ring Doorbell Camera Can See?
The distance optimal viewing is between 35 and 45 feet, so you can see who or what is outside your door. Here are a few factors that can change how far a Ring Doorbell sees.
1. Doorbell Camera Resolution
A Ring Doorbell has an HD camera which means it can project a clear image. The higher the resolution, the further away you can see something on your screen.
2. Light Conditions Outside Your House
If you have outside lights which are on or there is another bright light source, this will help for viewing at night. However, if there is no light, then the camera won’t be able to see as far.
3. Glass Thickness
If you have a window with thick glass, you may have a distorted image because of how it bends and reflects the light. The Ring Doorbell lens has a field of view that stretches from 35 to 45 feet away at 180 degrees.
4. Camera Quality
The better the camera quality, the further away you may be able to see something and still get a good resolution picture on your screen. The more megapixels, the clearer your image will be on your phone or laptop.
5. Subject Distance
If you’re looking at your front door through your front window, there’s a good chance you can see more than what the Ring Doorbell sees from the outside. This will be affected by how far away you are from your screen and if it has a quality camera lens.
6. Motion Detection
The motion detection feature is a big part of how far a Ring Doorbell or webcam can see. It uses this to find movement and then track it as an object.
This gives you the advantage of knowing what happens at your front door with minimal interference from snow, rain, fog, etc.
7. Infrared Night Vision
An infrared security camera is designed to see at night, but it may not be able to distinguish between people and objects.
It will light up anything in motion at night with an LED. The better the IR sensors, the further away you can see something moving on your screen.
8. WiFi Signal Strength
If your internet connection isn’t strong, you may have a hard time using the motion detection feature. If your WiFi signal is poor or other devices on it use up bandwidth, this can affect how well the doorbell works as a webcam.
What Can Ring Doorbell See at Night?
Ring Doorbells can see in the dark they have a night vision camera that follows movement and sends an alert to your phone whenever something moves.
You can also activate it manually with a toggle switch. This is a great way to keep an eye on your home when you’re not there and at night.
You may have a hard time seeing if it’s very bright outside, especially with sunlight reflecting off of the snow or rain.
However, Ring Doorbell can see in complete darkness which makes for an easy way to monitor activity at your front door even when you’re not expecting a package.
Final Thoughts!
If you want to see who is at your door from inside your house, make sure you choose a Ring Doorbell with a high-quality resolution.
This will help when there’s less light outside your house and it also requires the least amount of light to see who is at your door.
Having said that, if you want to see in the dark, then an infrared security camera is what you need. It has an invisible night vision technology allowing you to see in the dark.
It has a higher resolution and allows you to see people or items from about 20 feet away, giving you a wider viewing area of up to 50 feet.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Ring Doorbell Viewing Distance?
You can see up to 45 feet away from your door with a clear, HD image. However, this number will be lower for some people depending on their circumstances.
As long as certain conditions are met, you’ll be able to see who is at your front door in HD, even if they are out of sight.
Can ring doorbell see across the street?
Ring Doorbells are made to see in front of your door, not across the street.
You may be able to see someone crossing through multiple cameras if you have a panoramic camera installed at the right angle and zoom level. Otherwise, Ring Doorbells do not work as security cameras that can view things across the street.
Can Ring Doorbell See Through Glass?
Ring Doorbells can see through glass but it can vary by the quality of the camera. The more expensive models have better lenses and will pick up more detail than others even if they are covered with glass.
It’s not possible to install cameras behind glass, you must be able to see what’s happening outside without obstructions.
Does Ring Doorbell work at night?
Yes, you can turn on the LED light to make it easier to see what’s going on around your front door even when it gets dark out.
If you have a high-quality camera that detects motion in low light conditions, you may be able to view someone approaching your door even in complete darkness.
How far can a ring doorbell see at night?
You can see someone approaching your door at night as long as they’re not too far away and it isn’t too dark out.
If you don’t have the motion-activated lights turned on, Ring Doorbells will send an alert if they sense movement nearby.
Depending on the time of day and how much light is outside, you may be able to see someone approaching your door from up to 45 feet away.
How far away can Ring record?
You can record video footage within the range of your Ring Doorbell. If you don’t have motion-activated recording turned on, this limit may be up to 30 feet away.
However, if motion-sensor alerts are turned on, it will pick up movement anywhere nearby which can result in a lot of unnecessary recordings.
I am John Kouchek, the founder of Own The Smart Home. I am passionate about making homes smarter and more efficient. I have a degree in Robotics and Automation (MSc) and have worked in the home automation industry for over 10 years. Learn More!