A single 24/7 security post requires 168 guard-hours per week. At Calvis marketplace rates, unarmed coverage costs approximately $21,500 per month ($258,000 per year). Armed coverage runs approximately $27,800 per month ($334,000 per year). Those numbers assume steady billing at the standard hourly rate. Reality runs slightly higher once you factor in overtime, holiday premiums, and a supervisor for multi-guard deployments.
This guide walks through the full math, explains why 24/7 coverage requires four to five guards in rotation, and shows concrete ways to cut costs without leaving gaps.
The quick math: what 24/7 security actually costs
One post. One guard on site at all times. Here is what that means in hours and dollars.
Hours per week: 24 hours/day × 7 days = 168 hours/week
Monthly hours: 168 × 52 ÷ 12 = 728 hours/month
| Guard Type | Calvis Rate | Monthly Cost (728 hrs) | Annual Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unarmed static guard | $29.60/hr | ~$21,549 | ~$258,585 |
| Armed guard | $38.21/hr | ~$27,817 | ~$333,804 |
| Mobile patrol vehicle | $59.68/hr | ~$43,447 | ~$521,361 |
These are Calvis platform averages, what clients actually pay for vetted, licensed guards booked through the marketplace. Rates in high-cost metros (California, New York, Washington) typically run 15–30% above these figures.
For a full breakdown of what drives hourly rates, see the security guard cost guide.
Why 24/7 coverage needs 4–5 guards in rotation
A common mistake is assuming one guard works around the clock. No licensed security company deploys a single guard on a continuous post. Here is why the staffing model requires a team:
Three shifts fill the week, but not reliably. A standard three-guard rotation (three 8-hour shifts, seven days a week) works on paper but leaves no buffer for call-outs, sick days, or last-minute no-shows. In practice, security turnover nationally exceeds 100% per year, so call-outs are frequent.
Overtime triggers above 40 hours. A guard working more than 40 hours in a week generates overtime pay at 1.5× the base rate. A client who relies on two guards cross-covering every gap will quickly pay overtime rates for a large portion of their hours.
Relief guards cover breaks and meals. Labor law in most states requires rest breaks during extended shifts. A guard who steps away from post for a required break leaves coverage unattended unless a relief officer steps in.
The functional staffing model looks like this:
| Role | Headcount |
|---|---|
| Primary shift guards (3 shifts × 1 guard) | 3 |
| Relief / float guard (covers call-outs, breaks) | 1 |
| Supervisor (required for 3+ guard deployments) | 1 |
| Practical minimum | 4–5 |
Larger sites running two guards per shift multiply accordingly. A 24/7 two-guard post realistically needs eight to ten personnel on the roster to maintain zero-gap coverage.
What drives 24/7 security costs
Armed vs. unarmed
The single largest cost variable is whether your post requires an armed guard. Armed guards carry firearms and hold additional weapons permits, firearm liability insurance, and specialized training, all of which are baked into their rate.
On the Calvis platform, unarmed guards average $29.60/hr and armed guards average $38.21/hr, a premium of roughly 29%. Over a full year of 24/7 coverage, that difference totals approximately $75,000.
Most commercial 24/7 posts use unarmed guards: office lobbies, construction sites, retail campuses, warehouses. Armed guards are appropriate for facilities storing high-value assets, cash-handling operations, or sites with a documented threat history.
Overtime and holiday premiums
Standard overtime runs at 1.5× base rate. Federal holidays and some state-observed holidays trigger premium billing, often at 1.5×–2× base. A 24/7 post that covers all 11 federal holidays adds several hundred extra hours of premium billing per year.
Calvis clients can see rate premiums before confirming shifts, so there are no surprise invoices.
Supervisor requirements
Most security companies and state licensing boards require a licensed supervisor on-site or on-call when three or more guards are deployed simultaneously. For multi-guard 24/7 posts, this adds a supervisory billing rate, typically $5–$10/hr above the standard guard rate, to at least a portion of your coverage hours.
Location
Security guard rates reflect local labor markets and state licensing requirements. California minimum wage for security guards is higher than the national average. New York City sites typically run 20–30% above the national rate. Rural markets can run 10–20% below.
Post type and duties
A guard who checks IDs at a simple pedestrian entry costs less than one managing a complex vehicle gate with manifest verification, visitor logging, and radio dispatch. Specialized posts, armed vehicle escort, executive protection, crowd management, command higher rates and require guards with specific endorsements.
24/7 security cost comparison table
| Post Type | Guard Type | Monthly Cost | Annual Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8-hour post (1 shift/day) | Unarmed | ~$7,183 | ~$86,195 |
| 8-hour post (1 shift/day) | Armed | ~$9,273 | ~$111,268 |
| 16-hour post (2 shifts/day) | Unarmed | ~$14,365 | ~$172,381 |
| 16-hour post (2 shifts/day) | Armed | ~$18,546 | ~$222,546 |
| 24/7 post (3 shifts/day) | Unarmed | ~$21,549 | ~$258,585 |
| 24/7 post (3 shifts/day) | Armed | ~$27,817 | ~$333,804 |
| 24/7 two-guard post | Unarmed | ~$43,097 | ~$517,170 |
| 24/7 two-guard post | Armed | ~$55,634 | ~$667,607 |
Monthly figures are calculated at Calvis platform averages (unarmed $29.60/hr, armed $38.21/hr) × 728 hours/month and do not include overtime or holiday premiums.
How to reduce 24/7 security costs
Running a 24/7 security program does not require a static guard every hour of every day. The most effective cost-reduction strategies combine guard coverage with technology and right-sized deployment.
Hybrid: live guards plus remote video monitoring
Live video monitoring pairs remote operators watching your cameras in real time with on-site guards stationed only during your highest-risk windows. A site that previously required three overnight guards might reduce to one overnight guard plus remote monitoring coverage, cutting the overnight labor bill by 60–70%.
Remote monitoring typically costs $300–$800/month per camera system, compared to $7,000–$10,000/month for overnight guard coverage.
Right-size your hours
Not all 24 hours carry equal risk. A manufacturing plant may see 80% of its incidents between midnight and 5am. A retail center may be most exposed during the two hours after close. Analyzing your incident history and building shift schedules around actual risk windows rather than assumptions often reveals that 16–18 hours of guard coverage plus remote monitoring covers the 24-hour requirement at meaningfully lower cost.
Substitute mobile patrol for low-incident windows
For periods when incident risk is low but a complete gap is unacceptable, a mobile patrol officer driving a circuit across multiple sites provides a periodic deterrent at a fraction of the cost of a dedicated static post.
Mobile patrol on the Calvis platform averages $59.68/hr, but because a single officer covers multiple locations per hour, your effective cost per location can drop to $15–$25 per visit depending on patrol frequency.
A common model: static guard during operating hours (6am–10pm) plus mobile patrol checks at 1am, 3am, and 5am during low-incident overnight hours. This eliminates the overnight static post while keeping documented proof of patrol.
Pool coverage across multiple locations
Organizations with several sites in the same market can negotiate volume pricing with security agencies. Calvis clients with three or more active locations typically see blended hourly rates 8–12% below single-site pricing.
Lock in shift-rate pricing
On-demand bookings carry a modest premium over recurring scheduled shifts. For a known 24/7 requirement, locking in a recurring schedule at a fixed rate eliminates that premium and guarantees guard availability, a real concern for overnight shifts in tight labor markets.
Is 24/7 security worth the cost?
The ROI question depends on what you are protecting and what a single incident would cost.
A single cargo theft event at a distribution center can result in $50,000–$500,000 in losses. A liability claim from a violent incident at an unguarded commercial property can reach seven figures. For facilities with these exposure levels, $21,000–$28,000/month in security costs is straightforward insurance.
For lower-risk properties, a stabilized apartment complex or a small retail center, the math may favor 16-hour coverage plus remote monitoring or mobile patrol rather than full 24/7 static guarding.
The right answer starts with an honest threat assessment: what has actually happened at your site, what is your worst-case loss scenario, and what deterrent effect does visible security provide. Calvis can help you map coverage requirements to risk level.
Ready to price out 24/7 coverage for your site? Hire a security guard through Calvis and get coverage from licensed agencies, no long-term contract required.