Property Protection Cost: What Robots, Towers and Guards Really Cost in 2026

Property protection cost typically ranges from €14,800 for a mobile surveillance tower to €78,000 for an autonomous security robot as a one-time capital purchase, versus roughly €4,000-6,000 per month for a single manned guard post. The decisive factor is whether you buy an asset once or pay a recurring wage indefinitely: a guarded site running 24/7 can exceed €50,000 per year, while a purchased tower or robot amortises within one to three years and then keeps working. Below is a precise, figure-by-figure breakdown so you can budget your perimeter, construction site or critical-infrastructure (KRITIS) protection with confidence.

What drives property protection cost?

Four variables move the number more than anything else:

• Coverage hours. A gatehouse staffed only at night costs a fraction of a genuine 24/7 rota, which needs four to five full-time equivalents to cover shifts, holidays and sickness.
• Site size and layout. A single 300 m fence line is one thing; a sprawling 10-hectare logistics yard with multiple access points is another.
• Response requirement. Passive deterrence (visible presence) is cheaper than an active regime with intrusion detection, live-agent verification and guaranteed escalation.
• Ownership model. A recurring service contract behaves like rent; capital equipment behaves like an asset on your balance sheet.

Get these four right and the rest of the budget follows.

How much does each option cost?

The table below compares the three mainstream approaches to property protection cost, using indicative German-market figures. Guard costs are expressed monthly for comparison; equipment is expressed as a one-time purchase.

| Protection method | Typical cost | Basis | 24/7 capable | Runs unattended | |---|---|---|---|---| | Manned guard post | €4,000-6,000 / month | Recurring wage | Only with 4-5 FTE | No | | Mobile surveillance tower | from €14,800 | One-time purchase | Yes | Yes | | Autonomous security robot | from €78,000 | One-time purchase | Yes | Yes | | CCTV only (unmonitored) | €3,000-15,000 | One-time purchase | Records only | No response |

A single guard rarely equals genuine round-the-clock cover. To staff one post continuously you need four to five people, which is why a fully manned 24/7 site routinely lands between €48,000 and €72,000 per year — every year, with wage inflation on top.

What does a mobile surveillance tower cost?

A mobile video surveillance tower from BOSWAU + KNAUER starts at €14,800 as a one-time purchase. It combines high-resolution day/night cameras, thermal or AI-assisted analytics, floodlighting and loudspeaker deterrence in a self-sufficient, rapidly deployable unit. On a construction site or open yard, one tower typically covers what would otherwise demand a static guard post — but it never sleeps, never calls in sick and carries no monthly wage. Against €4,000-6,000 a month for guarding, a tower usually pays for itself in well under six months.

What does an autonomous security robot cost?

An autonomous security robot starts at €78,000. It patrols on a route you define, streams live video, detects intrusions with onboard analytics and escalates to a control room or your own team in real time. Because it moves, one robot can cover ground that would need several fixed cameras — and it does so consistently, without the fatigue, blind spots or attention lapses that undermine human patrols during long night shifts. Amortised across a typical service life, the effective monthly cost falls well below a single guard's wage while delivering continuous, auditable coverage.

Why is guarding the most expensive option over time?

Manned guarding looks affordable on a monthly quote, but the total cost of ownership tells a different story. Industry reporting consistently finds that personnel account for the overwhelming majority of physical-security spend, and that security wages have risen year on year across most European markets. A guard contract is a permanent operating expense that never converts into an owned asset — spend €60,000 a year for five years and you own nothing.

Studies of loss prevention also indicate that visible, always-on deterrence reduces intrusion and theft attempts far more reliably than intermittent patrols. Security analysts note that a large share of site incidents occur precisely during the gaps a human rota inevitably leaves. Equipment that is demonstrably present and recording every minute closes those gaps — which is exactly where robots and towers outperform a single guard on both cost and coverage.

Which option is right for your site?

• Temporary or project sites (construction, events, seasonal storage): a mobile surveillance tower delivers the fastest deployment and the lowest entry cost.
• Large or complex perimeters (logistics parks, industrial estates, KRITIS-classified assets): an autonomous security robot adds mobile, adaptive coverage and real-time escalation.
• High-assurance environments: combine a robot with one or more towers for overlapping detection and deterrence, still at a fraction of a full manned rota.

BOSWAU + KNAUER has manufactured protective technology in Filderstadt since 1892. Our robots and towers are KRITIS-capable, operate 24/7 and are engineered as long-life assets — the modern, purchasable alternative to open-ended guarding contracts.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does 24/7 property protection cost per year?

A fully manned 24/7 post generally costs €48,000-72,000 per year in recurring wages. A one-time surveillance tower from €14,800 or a robot from €78,000 provides continuous cover with no annual wage bill, typically amortising within one to three years.

Is a security robot cheaper than a guard?

Over the equipment's service life, yes. At from €78,000 once, an autonomous robot's effective monthly cost falls below a single guard's €4,000-6,000 wage — while covering more ground and eliminating shift gaps, sickness and attention lapses.

What is the cheapest reliable property protection?

A mobile surveillance tower from €14,800 is the lowest-cost option that still delivers active, always-on deterrence and recording — far more reliable than unmonitored CCTV and cheaper than any staffed post.

Can these systems protect KRITIS sites?

Yes. BOSWAU + KNAUER robots and towers are KRITIS-capable, run 24/7 and support live-agent verification and escalation to meet critical-infrastructure security requirements.

Get your exact figure

Property protection cost is ultimately site-specific. Use our online configurator to specify your perimeter, coverage hours and response needs, and receive an indicative price for a tower, a robot or a combined deployment — or contact our team in Filderstadt for a tailored assessment. Buy an asset that works every hour of every day, instead of renting a wage that never ends.