How much does UniFi hardware cost for a typical business?
At US Ubiquiti store prices observed in September 2026, core UniFi hardware for a 10-person office starts around $686, a 40-person office comes to about $2,532, and a mid-size warehouse example is about $4,746. These are example bills of materials built only from published store prices; your design, cabling and labor are separate.
| Example site | Hardware | Hardware subtotal |
|---|---|---|
| Small office, about 10 people | Cloud Gateway Max NS, no storage ($199; the standard Max is $279), Lite 8 PoE switch ($109), 2 U7 Pro access points (from $189 each) | From about $686 |
| Office, about 40 people | Dream Machine Pro Max ($599), Pro Max 24 PoE switch ($799), 6 U7 Pro access points (from $189 each) | About $2,532 (one example configuration, built on a Dream Machine Pro Max; the office network page's 25 to 50 person example uses a Cloud Gateway Fiber and comes to about $2,212) |
| Warehouse or plant floor example | Dream Machine Pro Max ($599), Pro Max 24 PoE switch ($799), 12 U7 Pro Max access points ($279 each) | About $4,746 |
Every price below is the US store price observed September 2026, subject to change. The Ubiquiti store also shows a second, higher "with surcharge" figure on many items, so check the store on the day you buy. Specs come from Ubiquiti's own pages: the Cloud Gateway Max, Dream Machine Pro Max, Lite 8 PoE (52W PoE budget, 4 PoE+ ports), Pro Max 24 PoE (400W PoE budget), U7 Pro and U7 Pro Max.
The access point counts in these examples are illustrations, not a design. A real count comes from a floor plan and a site walk; see the access point planning guide for why.
Key takeaway: UniFi hardware is inexpensive compared with enterprise brands, which is why the design and installation quality decide whether the network actually performs.
What drives the labor cost of a UniFi installation?
Labor depends mostly on cabling, not on the UniFi devices themselves: how many new cable runs you need, how long they are, and how hard the ceilings are to reach. Site survey work, configuration complexity, after-hours cutover and the number of sites move the price as well.
- Cabling runs: every access point, camera and door reader needs a PoE cable run back to a switch. New drops, long runs and fire-rated wall penetrations are usually the largest labor line.
- Ceiling height and access: an office drop ceiling is quick; a 30-foot warehouse bay or a plant floor usually needs a lift, safety planning and work scheduled around production.
- Site survey and design: a predictive design from floor plans, plus a walk-through to check wall materials, racking and equipment, sets the access point count and placement.
- Configuration complexity: a single flat network is simple; separate VLANs for guests, cameras, machines and payment systems, firewall rules, VPNs and multiple WANs take more engineering time.
- After-hours cutover: replacing a live network at night or on a weekend so production and phones keep running costs more than a weekday install in an empty building.
- Number of sites: each additional building or location adds travel, its own gateway and internet circuit, and site-to-site connectivity.
- Existing equipment: reusing good cabling saves money; taking over an undocumented network adds discovery time.
Key takeaway: Preferred Data does not publish per-drop or per-device labor rates, because two sites with the same device count can differ several-fold in cabling effort. You get a fixed written quote after a site walk instead.
Does UniFi charge license fees or subscriptions?
No license is needed to keep UniFi gateways, switches, access points or cameras running and manageable: Ubiquiti describes it as "Simple, License-Free Networking". Paid items are optional services, such as Official UniFi Hosting from $29 per month, Ubiquiti's CyberSecure subscription (listed on gateway spec pages as "55,000+ with CyberSecure" IDS/IPS signatures, plus content filtering), UniFi Identity Enterprise, Apple Wallet Touch Pass credentials for UniFi Access beyond the included passes, and per-number billing for UniFi Talk phone numbers.
| Item | Cost | Source |
|---|---|---|
| UniFi Network, Protect, Site Manager | No license fee | ui.com |
| Official UniFi Hosting (cloud console, optional) | From $29 per month | Ubiquiti store |
| UniFi CyberSecure (optional gateway security subscription) | Annual subscription; price not published here | Ubiquiti tech specs |
| UniFi Identity Enterprise (optional) | Paid tiers; price not published on the page checked | ui.com/identity |
| UniFi Talk phone numbers (optional) | Billed per number | ui.com |
Multi-site management through Site Manager is included; Ubiquiti calls it "completely license-free". For cameras, Ubiquiti states "Run 4 or 4,000 cameras - licensing is still $0" because recording and AI detection run on your local NVR or console. A self-hosted UniFi OS Server is also offered license-free.
How long is the UniFi warranty, and does it matter where you buy?
Ubiquiti's limited warranty runs two years from delivery when you buy directly from the Ubiquiti webstore, and one year from shipment when the product is bought through an authorized distributor or reseller. Optional UI Care coverage, including a 5-year plan, can be added per product.
The warranty covers replacement hardware, not labor to remove and reinstall it, according to Ubiquiti's warranty terms. UI Care is priced per product: for example the Ubiquiti store lists UI Care 5-Year Coverage for the G3 Touch Pro phone at $39 per unit, with advance replacement and prepaid return shipping.
Preferred Data tells you where the hardware is coming from and which warranty applies before you buy, so there are no surprises on a failed access point in year two.
How does PDC price a UniFi project?
Preferred Data gives a fixed written quote after a site walk, with hardware, cabling, configuration and cutover listed as separate lines. There is no charge to talk through the project, and you can call (336) 886-3282 or book a time.
- Discovery call: users, devices, buildings, internet circuits, cameras and doors, and what is not working today.
- Site walk: ceiling heights, wall materials, existing cabling and closet locations. On-site visits are available within 200 miles of High Point.
- Design and quote: device list, access point placement and a fixed price for installation.
- Ongoing support is optional and quoted separately; see managed UniFi support and PDC pricing.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a UniFi access point cost?
At the US store price observed September 2026, subject to change, the U7 Lite is $99, the U7 Pro starts at $189, the U7 Pro Max is $279 and the E7 enterprise access point is $499, according to the Ubiquiti store. Installation and cabling are extra and vary by site.
Is UniFi cheaper than Meraki?
UniFi hardware is generally priced lower, and it keeps working with no per-device license to renew. Meraki has real strengths of its own, so the answer depends on your team and priorities. See the UniFi vs Meraki comparison for a side-by-side view.
Why will you not publish a price per access point installed?
Because the cable run, not the access point, is most of the labor. The same access point can take minutes to hang on an existing drop in an office ceiling or hours on a lift in a warehouse bay, so a per-device rate would mislead you. A fixed quote after a site walk is more honest.
Should I buy the UniFi hardware myself?
You can. Buying from the Ubiquiti store gives the 2-year direct warranty, while hardware from resellers carries 1 year. Preferred Data can install owner-supplied hardware or supply it, and will say which warranty applies either way.
Do UniFi cameras need a subscription?
No. Ubiquiti states "Run 4 or 4,000 cameras - licensing is still $0"; recording and AI detections run on a local NVR or console. You pay for the cameras, the recorder and the hard drives.
What costs should I budget beyond hardware and installation?
Budget for cabling and patch panels, a small UPS for the network closet, hard drives if you add cameras, and your internet circuits. If you do not have in-house IT, also budget for ongoing monitoring and firmware management.
Sources
- Ubiquiti limited warranty
- Ubiquiti: How UniFi works (license-free)
- Ubiquiti blog: UniFi Fabrics and Site Manager
- Ubiquiti: Physical security licensing
- Ubiquiti store: Official UniFi Hosting
- Ubiquiti: UniFi Identity
- Ubiquiti store: G3 Touch Pro (UI Care)
- Ubiquiti tech specs: Cloud Gateway Max
- Ubiquiti tech specs: Dream Machine Pro Max
- Ubiquiti tech specs: Lite 8 PoE
- Ubiquiti tech specs: Pro Max 24 PoE
- Ubiquiti tech specs: U7 Pro
- Ubiquiti tech specs: U7 Pro Max
- Ubiquiti store: WiFi
- Ubiquiti blog: UniFi OS Server