How High To Install Ring Doorbell?

How high should you install a Ring Doorbell? A Ring Doorbell should be installed 48 inches high above the ground. Its motion sensors detect motion up to 180 degrees horizontally from up to five to 30 feet outward from the device. In order for the camera and sensors to work properly it should be installed level and plumb and flat against the wall. This is very important because the camera and sensors detect movement and record in the direction the unit is facing.

A Ring Doorbell’s camera has a fairly wide field of vision both vertically and horizontally. A common mistake is to mount the Ring at face height. But this is too high for the sensors. When mounted at around 48 inches you’ll have a good view of faces and the surrounding area and the sensors will work properly.

Ring Doorbells sense motion through a network of PIR or “Passive Infrared” motion sensors. The sensors detect motion by monitoring heat within the detection area. Since people are hotter than the surrounding area the Ring detects them as they pass into the detection area. The motion sensors interpret changes in temperature as movement and send out an alert. But the motion sensors have a much narrower field of view than the camera. If the Ring is mounted too high, or at an angle, its sensors may not detect movement.

Mounting your Ring too high may also detect things you don’t want. Such as passing cars or pedestrians walking by.

In this article we’ll discuss the Ring Doorbell, how it works and how high to install it.

Where Do You Measure From On The Ring Doorbell?

A Ring Doorbell should be mounted at 48 inches above the ground in order its sensors to work properly. But where do you measure from on the device?

I measure from the ground to the center of the Ring’s camera and not to the top of the Ring. The camera lens is located about on inch down from the top of the device. If you measure to the top of the device it will position the lens a little low.

If you do mount the Ring an inch or two high or low it shouldn’t cause the sensors to malfunction. But it’s not optimal.

Ring Doorbell Field of View

A Ring Doorbell should be installed 48 inches off the ground. The reason this is the correct height is due to its field of view.

A Ring Doorbell sees in two different ways: they have a camera and a series of PIR or “Passive Infrared” motion sensors that detect heat. The sensors detect motion by monitoring heat within the detection area. Since people are hotter than the surrounding area the Ring detects them as they pass into the detection area.

The Ring’s camera has a wide field of vision both vertically and horizontally. This means it can see things above and below the camera and from side to side. The optical field of vision on a Ring is very good with almost no blind spots.

Its series of motion sensors detect movement up to 180 degrees horizontally from five to 30 feet outward from the device.But this depends on the model Ring you buy.

Here are the Ring Doorbell field of vision specs by model:

• Ring Doorbell 2 detects movement 155 degrees horizontally from 5 to 25 feet outward from the device. This is the worst vision field of all the Ring Video Doorbells.
• Ring Doorbell 3 detects movement 180 degrees horizontally from 5 to 30 feet outward from the device. Slightly better than the Ring Video Doorbell 2.
• Ring Doorbell 4 detects movement 155 degrees horizontally from 5 to 30 feet outward from the device. The same specs as the Ring Video Doorbell 3.

All the Ring Doorbells have very good motion sensors and a great camera field of vision. If you install them correctly they’ll detect people and faces coming towards the door and will ignore passing cars in the street.

Ring Doorbell Mount Angle

In addition to being mounted 48 inches above the ground, a Ring Doorbell also has to be flush with the house and level.

A Ring Doorbell sees in two ways, its camera and a a series of PIR or “Passive Infrared” motion sensors that detect heat. The sensors detect motion by monitoring heat within the detection area. Since people are hotter than the surrounding area the Ring detects them as they pass into the detection area.

The field of view for the camera is very wide and forgiving. But the area that the sensors can see is much more narrow and focused. If you mount the Ring at an angle it will mess up the sensors ability to detect motion.

Here are some common mistakes:

• If the Ring is installed improperly and pitched upward, the sensors will not be able to detect ground level motion.
• If it’s mounted with a downward angle, its vision field will be reduced. So it won’t detect motion until someone is right at the door.

The most common reason people mount the ring at an incorrect angle is siding. Horizontal lap and cedar shake siding has a pitch that diverts wain away from the house. If you install a Ring Doorbell right up against the siding it will pitch upwards. But you can fix this problem by using a mounting plate called a Ring Doorbell Wedge Kit.

Mount a Ring Doorbell either on a mounting plate or a flat piece of door trim.

Use a small level to make sure the Ring is level and a tape measure to check the device’s height.

Ring Doorbell Power Source

Since a Ring Doorbell should be mounted 48 inches above the ground, that means your doorbell wires have to be in the correct position before you install the Ring.

Standard old fashioned doorbells could be mounted at any height because they didn’t have a camera or motion sensors to consider. So if you’re upgrading to a Ring, disconnect your old doorbell and measure the wire location. If it’s too high or too low you have to move the wires before installing the Ring.

Ring Doorbell Pro models are hard wired and require an Ethernet cable to provide access to the internet. So keep this in mind when determining the best height to mount your Ring. For a list of the best video doorbells that don’t use WiFi, click the link.

Another option is to install a battery operated Ring Doorbell. They work just as good as a hard-wired Ring but you have to keep the battery charged.

Can you install Ring Doorbell without shutting off the power? With some models you can and some you can’t, it depends on how they’re powered. Click the link to find out more. We have an entire article dedicated to the topic that can help you.

Where To Install Ring Doorbell

A Ring Doorbell should always be installed on the same side as the door knob. If you have a double “French” style door, install the Ring on the working side. Typically on a double door, one panel is working for everyday use and one is closed until you want to open both at the same time.

The height of the Ring Doorbell should be 48 inches above the ground. This is the optimal height for the motion sensors.

The angle of the Ring should be perfectly level. You don’t want the Ring to be pitched forward or back because it will throw off the sensor’s field of vision.

Ring Doorbell should always be mounted vertically and not horizontally. There’s no way to adjust the angle of the camera or sensors. Mounting the Ring sideways will throw off both the camera and motion sensors.

If you have a gated entry, a Ring Doorbell can be mounted at the gate. It should face away from the gate just as it would a door and should still be mounted at 48 inches high, level and vertical.

The same home can have multiple Ring Doorbells if they have multiple points of entry. But the same rules always apply. Install them vertically, 48 inches off the ground, level and on the knob side of the door.

If the door is a sliding door the same rule applies as it does to knobs. Mount the Ring on the handle side of the sliding door.

To keep the Ring dry, try to mount it under a roof, soffit or covering if possible. Ring Doorbells are water resistant and are designed to get wet under normal conditions, but they’re not waterproof. So there’s a chance that extremely heavy or driving sideways rain could damage them.

Ring Doorbell Wired Viewing Angle

A Ring Doorbell sees in two different ways: they have a camera and a series of PIR or “Passive Infrared” motion sensors that detect heat. The sensors detect motion by monitoring heat within the detection area. Since people are hotter than the surrounding area the Ring detects them as they pass into the detection area.

The Ring’s camera has a wide field of vision both vertically and horizontally. This means it can see things above and below the camera and from side to side. The optical field of vision on a Ring is very good with almost no blind spots.

Its series of motion sensors detect movement up to 180 degrees horizontally from five to 30 feet outward from the device.But this depends on the model Ring you buy.

Here are the Ring Doorbell field of vision specs by model:

• Ring Doorbell 2 detects movement 155 degrees horizontally from 5 to 25 feet outward from the device. This is the worst vision field of all the Ring Video Doorbells.
• Ring Doorbell 3 detects movement 180 degrees horizontally from 5 to 30 feet outward from the device. Slightly better than the Ring Video Doorbell 2.
• Ring Doorbell 4 detects movement 155 degrees horizontally from 5 to 30 feet outward from the device. The same specs as the Ring Video Doorbell 3.

All the Ring Doorbells have very good motion sensors and a great camera field of vision. If you install them correctly they’ll detect people and faces coming towards the door and will ignore passing cars in the street.

Best Height For Ring Doorbell 2

A Ring Doorbell 2 should be installed 48 inches high above the ground. Its motion sensors detect motion 155 degrees horizontally from five to 25 feet outward from the device. In order for the camera and sensors to work properly it should be installed level and plumb and flat against the wall. This is very important because the camera and sensors detect movement and record in the direction the unit is facing.

A Ring Doorbell 2’s camera has a wide field of vision both vertically and horizontally. A common mistake is to mount the Ring at face height. But this is far too high for the sensors. When mounted at around 48 inches you’ll have a good view of faces and the surrounding area and the sensors will work properly.

Ring Doorbells sense motion through a network of PIR or “Passive Infrared” motion sensors. The sensors detect motion by monitoring heat within the detection area. Since people are hotter than the surrounding area the Ring detects them as they pass into the detection area. The motion sensors interpret changes in temperature as movement and send out an alert. But the motion sensors have a much narrower field of view than the camera. If a Ring is mounted too high or at an angle its sensors may not detect movement.

Mounting your Ring too high may also cause detection of things you don’t want. Such as passing cars or pedestrians walking by.

Best Height For Ring Doorbell 3

A Ring Doorbell 3 should be installed 48 inches high above the ground. Its motion sensors detect motion 180 degrees horizontally from five to 30 feet outward from the device. In order for the camera and sensors to work properly it should be installed level and plumb and flat against the wall. This is very important because the camera and sensors detect movement and record in the direction the unit is facing.

A Ring Doorbell 3’s camera has a wide field of vision both vertically and horizontally. A common mistake is to mount the Ring at face height. But this is far too high for the sensors. When mounted at around 48 inches you’ll have a good view of faces and the surrounding area and the sensors will work properly.

Ring Doorbells sense motion through a network of PIR or “Passive Infrared” motion sensors. The sensors detect motion by monitoring heat within the detection area. Since people are hotter than the surrounding area the Ring detects them as they pass into the detection area. The motion sensors interpret changes in temperature as movement and send out an alert. But the motion sensors have a much narrower field of view than the camera. If a Ring is mounted too high or at an angle its sensors may not detect movement.

Mounting your Ring too high may also cause detection of things you don’t want. Such as passing cars or pedestrians walking by.

Best Height For Ring Doorbell 4

A Ring Doorbell 4 should be installed 48 inches high above the ground. Its motion sensors detect motion 180 degrees horizontally from five to 30 feet outward from the device. In order for the camera and sensors to work properly it should be installed level and plumb and flat against the wall. This is very important because the camera and sensors detect movement and record in the direction the unit is facing.

A Ring Doorbell 4’s camera has a wide field of vision both vertically and horizontally. A common mistake is to mount the Ring at face height. But this is far too high for the sensors. When mounted at around 48 inches you’ll have a good view of faces and the surrounding area and the sensors will work properly.

Ring Doorbells sense motion through a network of PIR or “Passive Infrared” motion sensors. The sensors detect motion by monitoring heat within the detection area. Since people are hotter than the surrounding area the Ring detects them as they pass into the detection area. The motion sensors interpret changes in temperature as movement and send out an alert. But the motion sensors have a much narrower field of view than the camera. If a Ring is mounted too high or at an angle its sensors may not detect movement.

Mounting your Ring too high may also cause detection of things you don’t want. Such as passing cars or pedestrians walking by.

Minimum Height For Ring Doorbell

A Ring Doorbell should be installed 48 inches high above the ground. Its motion sensors detect motion up to 180 degrees horizontally and from up to five to 30 feet outward from the device. In order for the camera and sensors to work properly it should be installed level and plumb and flat against the wall. This is very important because the camera and sensors detect movement and record in the direction the unit is facing.

Ring Doorbell doesn’t have a range like other doorbells so there’s no minimum or maximum height. The correct height it 48 inches. I measure this height at the camera lens.

A Ring Doorbell’s camera has a wide field of vision both vertically and horizontally. A common mistake is to mount the Ring at face height. But this is far too high for the sensors. When mounted at around 48 inches you’ll have a good view of faces and the surrounding area and the sensors will work properly.

Ring Doorbells sense motion through a network of PIR or “Passive Infrared” motion sensors. The sensors detect motion by monitoring heat within the detection area. Since people are hotter than the surrounding area the Ring detects them as they pass into the detection area. The motion sensors interpret changes in temperature as movement and send out an alert. But the motion sensors have a much narrower field of view than the camera. If a Ring is mounted too high or at an angle its sensors may not detect movement.

Mounting your Ring too high may also cause detection of things you don’t want. Such as passing cars or pedestrians walking by.

Ring Doorbell Height With Steps

When you install a Ring Doorbell on a home with steps it creates a problem for the sensors. The correct height to mount a Ring is 48 inches from the ground. This is measured from the floor to the center of the camera lens.

The reason a Ring is mounted at 48 inches is due to its sensors and not the camera.

A Ring’s camera has a very wide field of vision both vertically and horizontally. If you have steps the camera should still be able to see just fine. But its sensors will be thrown off. The field of vision of the sensors can only see between 155 – 180 degrees horizontally and up to 5 – 30 feet outward from the device.

By having steps, it pushes the Ring further away from passers by and at a bad angle.

The height to set a Ring Doorbell on a house with steps depends on how many steps there are and the angle of the stairs.

If there are only one or two steps, I typically mount the Ring flush and level. But if there are lots of steps or they’re at a steep angle I usually pitch the Ring downward slightly.

You can test out the Ring height by walking by and checking your phone. If it detects the area where you want it to see then it’s mounted at the correct angle. If not, make an adjustment.

Even with steps, the Ring should be mounted 48 inches above the floor. But instead of being grade height you measure from the platform when you’re stand right in front of the door.

Summary: How High To Mount Ring Doorbell?

How high should you install a Ring Doorbell? A Ring Doorbell should be installed 48 inches high above the ground. Its motion sensors detect motion up to 180 degrees horizontally from up to five to 30 feet outward from the device. In order for the camera and sensors to work properly it should be installed level and plumb and flat against the wall. This is very important because the camera and sensors detect movement and record in the direction the unit is facing.

A Ring Doorbell’s camera has a fairly wide field of vision both vertically and horizontally. A common mistake is to mount the Ring at face height. But this is too high for the sensors. When mounted at around 48 inches you’ll have a good view of faces and the surrounding area and the sensors will work properly.

Ring Doorbells sense motion through a network of PIR or “Passive Infrared” motion sensors. The sensors detect motion by monitoring heat within the detection area. Since people are hotter than the surrounding area the Ring detects them as they pass into the detection area. The motion sensors interpret changes in temperature as movement and send out an alert. But the motion sensors have a much narrower field of view than the camera. If the Ring is mounted too high, or at an angle, its sensors may not detect movement.

Mounting your Ring too high may also detect things you don’t want. Such as passing cars or pedestrians walking by.

If you have any questions about a Ring Doorbell, email any time.