A PoE (Power over Ethernet) switch is the easiest way to run IP security cameras. One network cable carries both video and power, so each camera needs no outlet nearby. Choosing the right switch comes down to three questions: how many cameras, how much power, and how much control you want.
1. Count your ports
You need one PoE port per camera, plus one regular port to connect the switch to your router or NVR. Leave a spare port or two for future cameras.
2. Check the PoE budget
Every PoE switch has a total power budget shared across its PoE ports. Add up the maximum power of all your cameras (it is on the camera's spec sheet) and choose a switch with at least 20% headroom.
- Most fixed indoor and outdoor cameras use roughly 4 to 7 W.
- Cameras with infrared night vision use more at night.
- Pan-tilt-zoom (PTZ) cameras and cameras with heaters can need PoE+ (up to 25.5 W at the device).
3. PoE or PoE+?
PoE (802.3af) delivers up to 15.4 W per port, enough for most fixed cameras. PoE+ (802.3at) delivers up to 30 W per port and also powers Wi-Fi access points and PTZ cameras. If in doubt, choose PoE+: it works with both.
4. Unmanaged, Easy Smart or managed?
- Unmanaged: plug in and go. Perfect for a simple home camera system.
- Easy Smart / easy managed: adds VLANs (to keep cameras separate from your home network) and lets you switch PoE off and on per port to remotely reboot a frozen camera.
- Smart managed (JetStream / Omada): full control and central management in the Omada app, ideal for businesses.
Our picks by system size
2 to 4 cameras
- TP-Link TL-SG1005P ($62.33): 4 PoE ports, plug and play. The simplest choice.
- TP-Link TL-SG105PE ($69.99): 4 PoE+ ports with Easy Smart management and per-port PoE control.
- TP-Link Omada ES205GP ($59.99): 4 PoE+ ports, 65 W budget, Omada app management and wall mounting.
4 cameras plus computers and a TV
- TP-Link TL-SG108PE ($89.99): 4 PoE + 4 regular ports, fanless and silent.
- TP-Link TL-SG2008P ($149.99): 4 PoE+ ports with a 62 W budget, smart managed and Omada-ready.
Up to 8 cameras
- TP-Link Omada ES208GP ($89.99): PoE+ on all 8 ports, 64 W budget. Great value for low-power cameras.
- TP-Link TL-SG1016PE ($189.99): 8 PoE+ ports with a 110 W budget plus 8 regular ports.
- TP-Link TL-SG2210MP ($259.99): 8 PoE+ ports with a big 150 W budget, plus 2 SFP fibre slots. Best for PTZ or heated outdoor cameras.
16 cameras or more
- TP-Link TL-SG1218MPE ($299.99): 16 PoE+ ports, rackmount, fibre-ready uplinks.
- TP-Link TL-SG2428P ($449.99): 24 PoE+ ports and 4 SFP slots, the core switch for a whole building.
Prices at Sensei Photo in October 2026. Check product pages for current prices.
Quick example
Six outdoor cameras at about 6 W each, two of them with night vision at up to 9 W: that is roughly 48 W. The 64 W ES208GP would work, but the 110 W TL-SG1016PE leaves more headroom and room to grow.
Common questions
Will a PoE switch damage my laptop?
No. PoE is only delivered to devices that request it, so regular devices are safe on any port.
How far can the camera be from the switch?
Up to 100 metres (328 feet) of Cat5e or Cat6 cable.
Do I need a managed switch?
Not for a simple home system. A managed switch helps if you want to keep cameras on a separate VLAN or reboot cameras remotely.
Browse all TP-Link network switches or our smart home and security cameras.