The cost of a home alarm in Belgium
There is no single answer to the question ‘How much does an alarm cost?’, but there are general price ranges. Here are ours, based on the actual prices charged by this shop. All amounts areexcluding VAT; 21 per cent VAT is added to the payment.
The equipment
| Configuration | What it contains | Price excluding VAT |
|---|---|---|
| Studio or flat: the essentials | Control unit, 1 motion detector, 1 door contact, 1 remote control | from€308 |
| Flat with photo verification | Control unit, photo sensor, door contact, remote control | approximately€450 |
| Home, standard configuration | Control unit, photoelectric sensor, keypad, indoor siren, remote control | approximately€700 |
| Entire house | Multiple detectors, outdoor siren, RFID keypad, multiple contacts | approximately€1,090 |
See details of the configurations in thealarm kits. A kit works out cheaper than buying the same items separately, and helps avoid mismatches.
The price of an additional item
A system is always expanding. Order of magnitude figures, per unit and excluding VAT: onemotion detectorranges from €40 to €150 depending on whether it is a single, dual or camera model; amagnetic contactbetween €10 and €40; asirenbetween €30 and €150, depending on whether it is for indoor or outdoor use; an outdoor detector or an infrared barrier costs considerably more, as the electronics are designed to withstand damp, frost and direct sunlight.
Installation
There are two options, and they don’t cost the same.
You install it yourself.It’s a realistic wireless solution: the kits are paired at the factory, and each component is added by scanning a code in the app. Cost: zero. The challenge isn’t technical; it’s strategic — placing the sensors in key passageways rather than in large rooms.
We’re installing it.TheThe installation fee for up to 10 items is €250 excluding VAT, including commissioning, application configuration and a briefing upon handover. For locations more than 15 km from Brussels, atravel surcharge of €100 excluding VATapplies. We operate inBrussels, Liège, Charleroi, Namur, Mons, La LouvièreandNivelles.
Recurring costs — and how to avoid them
This is where the market offers differ the most. With some providers, the equipment is practically given away and the contract runs for several years: the total cost ends up being significantly higher than buying it outright. Our model is the opposite — you buy the equipment, and the services are optional, on a monthly basis.
- App, notifications, remote control: €0.Included, with no subscription required, for as long as the system exists.
- Encrypted M2M SIM card, Belgian number: €8 per month.To ensure the alarm transmits even if the internet connection is down.
- Dispatch and emergency call-outs: from €20 per month.An operator receives the alarm, verifies the situation and alerts the relevant parties. The charge depends on the number of zones: €20 for up to 10 zones, €35 for 10 to 20, €49 for 20 to 40, and €69 for 40 to 60.
- Response following an alarm: €35 per month.An officer will visit the premises to assess the situation.
A system that requires no subscription works perfectly: you’re notified, and you decide. Paid services don’t buy extra security; they buy response time when you can’t be reached.
The cost over five years
This is a useful benchmark for comparison. A DIY kit costing €700 excluding VAT, fitted by us (€250), works out at€950 excluding VAT, once and for all. Add the SIM card and call centre services, and you’re looking at €28 a month, or €1,680 over five years — a total of around €2,630 excluding VAT, including equipment and with no long-term commitment. Compare this figure — not the monthly call charge — with what an all-inclusive contract offers.
What the price doesn’t tell you
Given the same budget, the difference lies in three areas: thephoto verification(without it, every alarm means a call-out), thenumber of transmission channels(a control unit that only communicates via the box stops working when the box is switched off), and thescalability(a saturated control panel needs replacing). These are the three points to check before looking at the label.
To put together your setup: theconfiguratorin just a few questions, orWrite to usalong with a rough floor plan of your home — we’ll send you a detailed quote. See alsoHow to choose a burglar alarm in Belgium.