What PoE Switch Do I Need for 16 Security Cameras? (2026)
What PoE switch do I need for 16 security cameras?
Updated November 2026 · Prices update live from silarius.com
For 16 fixed cameras, use a 16-port PoE+ switch with at least about 150W of PoE budget, such as the Silarius SIL-A16POE1G150 ($239.99). Sixteen Silarius X cameras need about 72W (5MP) to 112W (4K) at night with IR on. If you add PTZ cameras or want room to grow, step up to the 24-port SIL-A24POE1G450 with a 450W budget.
How much PoE power do 16 cameras need?
Add up each camera's maximum draw (at night, with IR on) and keep about 25% spare. The figures below use the power specs on the Silarius X product pages.
| Cameras | Max per camera (PoE) | Total | Switch that fits |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16 × Silarius X 5MP (dome or bullet) | about 4.5 W | about 72 W | SIL-A16POE1G150 (150W) |
| 16 × Silarius X 8MP (4K) bullet | about 7 W | about 112 W | SIL-A16POE1G150 (150W) |
| 12 fixed 4K cameras + 4 PoE+ PTZ cameras | 7 W and up to 30 W | about 204 W | SIL-A24POE1G450 (450W) |
PTZ cameras with heaters or long-range lasers can need more than 30 W; check the PTZ spec sheet.
Silarius PoE switches
| Switch | Ports | PoE budget | Best for | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SIL-A8POE1G120 | 8 PoE+ ports | 120W | Up to 8 cameras | $139.99 |
| SIL-A16POE1G150 | 16 PoE+ ports, 2 Gigabit + 2 SFP uplinks | 150W | 16 fixed cameras | $239.99 |
| SIL-A24POE1G450 | 24 PoE+ ports, 4 Gigabit + 4 SFP uplinks | 450W | 16 cameras with PTZs, or room to grow | $289.99 |
| SIL-B24M3POE1G400 | 24 PoE+ ports, Layer 3 managed, 4 x 10G SFP+ | 400W | Managed networks and VLANs | $499.99 |
All Silarius switches carry a 3-year Silarius warranty and ship free in the US.
Do I need a switch at all?
Not always. Silarius recorders with built-in PoE ports, such as the SIL-NVR4K16, power the cameras straight from the NVR, so a small site needs no separate switch. A PoE switch makes sense when the cameras are far from the recorder, when you need more ports than the NVR has, or when Silarius X cameras record straight to Silarius Cloud with no recorder at all.
See also how much a 4, 8 or 16 camera system costs and how much NVR storage you need.
Questions
What PoE switch do I need for 16 cameras?
A 16-port PoE+ switch with at least about 150W of PoE budget, such as the Silarius SIL-A16POE1G150, runs 16 fixed cameras. For PTZ cameras or room to grow, use a 24-port switch with a bigger budget, such as the SIL-A24POE1G450 (450W).
How many watts does a security camera use?
Silarius X 5MP cameras use about 2 W on PoE and up to about 4.5 W at night with IR on; Silarius X 4K bullets up to about 7 W. PTZ cameras use much more, up to 30 W on PoE+.
Do I need PoE or PoE+?
Fixed cameras run on standard PoE (802.3af, up to 15.4 W per port). PTZ cameras and cameras with heaters usually need PoE+ (802.3at, up to 30 W per port). Silarius PoE+ switches power both.
Is a 150W PoE switch enough for 16 cameras?
Yes for 16 fixed Silarius X cameras: they need about 72 W (5MP) to 112 W (4K) at night with IR on. Add PTZ cameras and you need a bigger budget.
Do Silarius switches have a warranty?
Yes. Silarius hardware has a 3-year full Silarius warranty and ships free in the US.