Google Nest Camera Mounting Options – (Best Options)

Are you looking for some creative Google Nest camera mounting options and DIY ideas?

You’ve found them!

In this quick guide, we’ll walk you through several mounting options for your Nest camera as well as provide you with some creative DIY ideas.

So, if you’re struggling to secure the Nest camera in the preferred spot in your home, we strongly recommend reading our suggestions.

The 7 Absolute Best Google Nest Camera Mounting Options!

Quick Tip: For indoor installation, the mount can be lightweight, in contrast, for outdoor mounts, securing the camera should be a priority.

1. Place Over a Horizontal Surface

The Google Nest cameras are designed with a stable base, allowing the device to be set up on any horizontal surface across your home.

This provides the complete freedom to position your Nest camera wherever you want, as long as the surface is stable and of course, there is no wind.

Here are some examples of good places for horizontal positioning:

As long as the surface is stable, your Nest camera can stand on its own, without any support!

Note: Positioning and not securing the camera is not a good mounting option for outdoor units.

2. Attach to Metal Surface *Magnet*

Nest cameras feature a magnetic base, meaning that the camera can be secured to almost any magnetic surface, even outside.

The magnet is powerful, which means that the force can completely support the weight of the camera.

However, in severe cases, strong wind may overpower the magnet, so if your Nest camera is outside, it’s strongly recommended to employ additional support.

Here are some examples of magnetic surface camera mount sites:

• For Houses: Refrigerator, metal shelving, electric panel (basement/garage), metal frames, steel support beams, and more…
• For Apartments: Metal light fixtures, metal window frames, metal storage units, custom metal surfaces, and more…
• For Outdoor: Porch posts, metal stairway railings, garage doors, metal roof overhangs, playground frames, and more…

Wherever you decide to mount your Nest camera, as long as the surface is purely metallic, the magnetic base would have a strong grip, securing the device.

Quick Tip: We recommend testing the magnetic strength before permanently mounting your Nest camera to a metal surface.

3. Utilize the Metal Mounting Place

One of the best mounting options for the Nest camera is to use the supplied metal wall plate, which is compatible with the camera’s magnetic base.

In the box of your Nest camera, you will also discover some wall anchors as well as wall screws to help you attach the metal wall plate.

This method is perfect, especially if you have no metallic surfaces near the site where you want your Nest camera installed.

Note: The most secure way of installing the supplied metallic wall plate is by drilling holes!

Here’s how to install your supplied metal wall plate on a wall:

1. Acquire a drill and a drill bit, roughly the size of the wall anchors.
2. Place the wall plate on the wall, and use a marker to mark spots.
3. Drill at least 2 holes that will support the metal wall plate securely.
4. Insert the wall anchors and if needed, hammer them all the way in.
5. Position the metal wall plate and tighten the screws in the anchors.

That’s it for mounting the metal wall plate. The anchors can be used in brick, concrete, and even wooden walls, so there isn’t much thinking behind the process.

The next step is to secure your Nest camera onto the metal wall plate, and you’re ready.

Note: There are other ways to secure the metal wall plate to the wall, without drilling, such as super glue, but these methods are far less reliable and not recommended.

4. Hidden Mount – 100% Concealed

If you are wondering how to mount a Google Nest camera, in a way that nobody can see it, we’ve prepared a few fantastic DIY ideas for you.

Well, depending on whether you want the camera on the wall or not, you can still use the supplied metal wall plate, and add a sneaky camera cover.

• Stuffed Animal – You can easily put your Nest camera inside a plush toy by making a small cut to insert it and another cut for the POV.
• Fake Detector – You can also install the camera in the casing of a dummy smoke detector on the ceiling, providing you with a bird’s-eye POV.
• Air Vents Cam – Another way to conceal your Nest camera is installing it in an unused air vent, and cutting a small hole/s for the camera’s lens.
• Picture Frame – You can modify a picture frame by cutting holes for the lens, which is a perfect way to blend your camera shelves and desks.
• Nature Conceal – If you want to conceal your Nest camera outdoors, the best cover is going to be flowers, overhanging vines, leaves, and branches.

The possibilities are endless.

If you combine some of these ideas with the supplied metal wall mount, you can pretty much deploy your sneaky severance camera anywhere around the home.

5. Use a 3D-printed Custom Mount

If the environment really does not support any of the suggested mounting options so far, a great way to take personalization to the next level is via a 3D printer. 

If you have access to one of those, you can use software such as Blender, Tinkercard, or Fusion 360 to design your own camera mount and then bring it to life. 

If you’re not an expert in 3D printing software, you can browse the Nest camera 3D printed models, made by other enthusiasts, and simply use their sketch in a 3D printer to realize it physically. 

Then you can unleash your imagination and deploy your unique Nest camera mount anywhere!

Info: The way this works is either by creating your own 3D model, or downloading an already existing model, then loading the file into the software of a 3D printer.

6. Deploy PVC Pipe for DIY Mount

A very common DIY solution to mount almost any camera, not only Nest, is by using a PVC pipe due to its durability.

You can repurpose the PVC pipe in any form or shape you want and set up the camera securely.

This provides you with complete freedom and flexibility for the cam mount.

Here are some examples of how you can repurpose the PVC pipe:

• Wall Mounted Arm – Use a long PVC pipe with a 90-degree elbow on one end, and attach your Nest camera with anything suitable like a zip tie.
• PVC Ceiling Pole – Attach a long PVC pipe vertically from the ceiling, to provide your Nest camera with an extended pole mount.
• Home Fence Mount – Attach a piece of PVC pipe to the fence, and extend it upwards as much as necessary for your cameras to see clearly over the fence.

We’re just scratching the surface here.

You can use a PVC pipe in numerous ways to provide the Nest camera with a stable mount, enabling endless DIY possibilities.

Note: When using DIY mounts, just ensure that the camera is secured to prevent it from falling!

7. Repurposed Old Camera Tripod

One of the best Google Nest camera mounting options is using a tripod.

So, if you have an old tripod, even if broken, you can repurpose it in various ways to secure your Nest camera in a preferred position indoors or outdoors. 

The tripod is a good mounting option because it provides complete freedom of adjustable angle, extendable neck, steadiness, and ultimate portability.

Tripods are typically designed to embed cameras, hence that part is already out of the way.

The only DIY factor is attaching the legs in a suitable spot.

So, if you have a way to secure the tripod in a spot where you want to keep the Nest camera, that would be an excellent mounting option.

Note: Buying a new tripod is also not a bad idea!

Read Next: How To Move Nest Camera To New Home?