Solutions by facility
Safety and Security Mirrors for Convenience Stores
A convenience store needs two kinds of mirror: a dome mirror or DomeVex wide-view mirror mounted where the clerk can see the whole sales floor from the register, and smaller convex mirrors at the aisle ends and cooler corner that let customers and staff see around the shelving. Every mirror on this page is acrylic, mounts to a wall or ceiling with the included hardware, and is made in the USA.
1 mirror
covers the floor from the register
160°–360°
coverage depending on mirror type
12″–36″
convex sizes for aisle ends
Acrylic
lightweight, no glass to break
Most convenience stores are one room with a lot of things in it. Gondola shelving runs in short rows, the coolers line the back wall, and the register sits up front by the door. From behind the counter the clerk can usually see the door and the first aisle. The back corner by the coolers, the far side of the chip rack, and the stockroom doorway are out of sight, and those are the spots where product walks out and where a customer with a basket meets a stocker with a hand truck.
Mirrors fix that for a fraction of what a camera system costs, and they work in real time. A camera records what happened. A mirror lets the clerk see it while it is happening, which is what actually stops a grab-and-go or a collision in the aisle. Cameras and mirrors are not either-or; most stores run both, and the mirror is the one the clerk actually looks at during a shift.
The flyer this page is based on comes from the manufacturer that builds our mirrors, and it lays out six mirror types that fit a typical c-store. Below we go through where each one goes, which size to order, and how to mount it on the drop ceiling or block wall you probably have.
Where the blind spots are
Where convenience store blind spots are, and what to mount there
Walk the store from the register and note every spot you cannot see. Each one gets a mirror sized for the distance back to the counter.
Spot 1
Register to back corner
- The problem
- From the counter, the coolers along the back wall and the corner by the beer cave are hidden behind the last gondola. That corner is the most common shrink point in a small store because it is the farthest from staff.
- The mirror
- Mount one wide-view mirror high in that back corner, angled down toward the register. An indoor DomeVex sees a full 180 degrees from a single vertically mounted mirror, so one unit covers both the cooler run and the aisle ends. On a store deeper than about 30 feet, step up to the 32-inch DomeVex or a 360-degree full dome on the ceiling.
Spot 2
Aisle ends and the chip rack
- The problem
- Short gondolas create a blind corner at every aisle end. A customer turning the corner with a basket and a stocker coming the other way with a case of water meet without warning, and anyone standing in the middle of an aisle is invisible from the counter.
- The mirror
- An 18-inch or 26-inch indoor acrylic convex mirror on the wall at the end of each aisle, tilted toward the register, brings the length of the aisle into view. Standard convex is the right tool here; it shows one direction clearly and costs less than a dome.
Spot 3
Low ceilings and soffits
- The problem
- Coolers, walk-in doors, and soffits over the coffee bar leave less than eight feet of clearance in places. A round 26-inch convex hangs too low there and gets hit.
- The mirror
- A rectangular convex mirror gives a view comparable to a round mirror of the same width while taking up less height. The 12 × 18 and 18 × 26 sizes tuck under a soffit and still show the full aisle. The manufacturer designed them for exactly this: lower-clearance areas that still need a standard convex view.
Spot 4
Cooler corner and stockroom door
- The problem
- The doorway between the sales floor and the stockroom or walk-in is a T-intersection: people come out of the door into cross traffic in the aisle, and nobody can see the other party.
- The mirror
- A 180-degree half dome mirror mounted on the ceiling or high on the wall above the doorway shows both directions of the aisle at once. Half domes mount directly to the ceiling or wall, and the 18-inch size is enough for a doorway; use the 26-inch where the aisle is wide or the ceiling is high.
Spot 5
Open floor with a drop ceiling
- The problem
- Larger stores with a grid ceiling and an open floor plan need a mirror the clerk can glance at once and see everything, not a series of small mirrors down each wall.
- The mirror
- A full 360-degree dome mirror in the center of the ceiling gives one reflective hemisphere that covers the whole floor. It is the mirror to use where the area to watch is large and no single wall position sees it all. Full domes mount to the ceiling deck; a drop-in version that sits in a 2 × 2 grid opening in place of a tile is coming soon.
Recommended mirrors
Mirrors we recommend for convenience stores
These are the specific catalog items that match the flyer's convenience store lineup. Every one is stocked, made to order in the USA, and ships with mounting hardware.
Indoor · Wide-angle · Acrylic
Best for parking garage turns
DomeVex Indoor Convex Mirror — Wide Angle
- Hybrid dome profile
- Wide room coverage
- Corner-ready
Why for convenience stores: The register-to-back-corner mirror. One DomeVex covers 180 degrees, which is three times the viewing area of a standard convex, so one unit in the back corner watches the coolers and the aisle ends together.
Indoor · Acrylic · Hardboard
Best for warehouse blind corners
Indoor Acrylic Convex Mirror — Hardboard Back
- 160° view
- 12″–36″ sizes
- Z-bracket included
Why for convenience stores: The aisle-end mirror. Acrylic lens on a hardboard back with a Z-bracket in the box. Order 18 inches for a short aisle, 26 inches for anything over about 20 feet.
Rectangular Convex Mirror
Best for warehouse blind corners
Indoor Rectangular Convex Mirror - Rounded Edges
- Hardboard
- Acrylic
- 12x18
Why for convenience stores: For soffits, cooler runs, and any spot with under eight feet of clearance. Same view as a round mirror of the same width, less height.
Dome Mirrors , Full Dome, Half Dome, & Quarter Dome Mirrors
Best for retail security
Security Mirror: 180° Half Dome Acrylic Safety Mirror
- 18 inch
- 26 inch
- 32 inch
Why for convenience stores: For the stockroom doorway and the cooler corner. Mounts flat to the wall or ceiling and shows both directions of the aisle.
Dome Mirrors , Full Dome, Half Dome, & Quarter Dome Mirrors
Best for retail security
360° Full Dome Acrylic Safety Mirror
- 8 inch
- 18 inch
- 26 inch
Why for convenience stores: For a large open floor under a drop ceiling where one mirror in the middle should show everything.
Indoor · Polycarbonate · Hardboard
Best for high-impact areas
Polycarbonate Convex Mirror — Hardboard Back (Indoor)
- 250× stronger than glass
- 12″–30″
- Anti-vandal
Why for convenience stores: For stores with a history of vandalism or for the mirror nearest the door. Polycarbonate is about 250 times the impact strength of glass and will not crack if it gets hit with a basket or a bottle.
Sizing
Sizing a mirror for a convenience store
Measure from where the mirror will hang to where the person looking at it stands, usually the register. Plan on roughly one foot of viewing distance per inch of mirror diameter, a little more in a bright store. The table below is the manufacturer's guidance mapped to our catalog sizes; the dome sizing guide goes deeper on the ceiling mirrors.
| Distance to the viewer | Round convex | Rectangular convex | Dome / DomeVex |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 12 ft (aisle end, doorway) | 12″ or 18″ | 12″ × 18″ | 18″ half dome |
| 12 to 26 ft (typical aisle) | 18″ or 26″ | 18″ × 26″ | 16″ DomeVex or 18″ full dome |
| 26 to 36 ft (register to back wall) | 30″ or 36″ | 24″ × 36″ | 24″ DomeVex or 26″ full dome |
| Over 36 ft (large floor) | 36″ | 24″ × 36″ | 32″ DomeVex or 36″ full dome |
When in doubt, go one size up. The most common complaint we hear is a mirror that turned out too small for the distance, and a bigger mirror costs far less than a second one.
Mounting
Mounting in a convenience store
Most c-stores have a drop ceiling over the sales floor and either block or drywall on the perimeter. Both are easy.
- 1
Wall mount at the aisle ends
Indoor convex mirrors ship with a Z-bracket. Screw it into a stud or a block anchor about seven to eight feet up, hang the mirror, and tilt it until the aisle shows in the mirror from the register. Two anchors and ten minutes per mirror.
- 2
Ceiling mount for domes
Half and full domes mount directly to the ceiling deck or to the wall with the screws provided. On a grid ceiling, mount to the T-bar or to a piece of plywood laid across the tile above. Do not hang a dome from a ceiling tile alone.
- 3
Drop-ceiling clip for DomeVex and convex
The manufacturer offers a T-bar clip that hangs a DomeVex or a convex mirror straight from the ceiling grid, which is the fastest install on an open floor. The clip is coming soon to the site; until it is listed, call us and we will quote it with your mirror.
- 4
Aim it from the register
Have one person stand at the counter while another adjusts the mirror. The mirror is aimed correctly when the person at the counter can see the far end of the aisle or the cooler corner without leaning.
In place
What the mirror sees in a convenience store
Questions
Questions we get about convenience stores
What size security mirror does a convenience store need?
Size it to the distance between the mirror and the register. An 18-inch convex covers an aisle end within about 18 feet of the counter; a 26-inch handles a 26-foot aisle; and the mirror in the back corner that has to be read from the front door is usually 30 to 36 inches, or a 24- to 32-inch DomeVex. Plan on about one foot of distance per inch of diameter.
Is a dome mirror or a convex mirror better for a small store?
Use both. A convex mirror shows one direction clearly and is the right pick for aisle ends. A dome mirror shows several directions from one spot and belongs over a doorway, at the cooler corner, or in the middle of an open floor. A DomeVex splits the difference: it mounts on the wall like a convex but sees 180 degrees like a dome.
Do security mirrors actually deter shoplifting?
They make it obvious that staff can see the far corners of the store, which is the point. Most casual theft happens where the person believes nobody is watching. A mirror in that corner removes the belief. Mirrors do not replace cameras for evidence after the fact, but they are what the clerk uses in the moment.
Can I hang the mirror from my drop ceiling?
Yes. Full and half domes mount to the ceiling deck or grid with the included screws. For DomeVex and round convex mirrors, the manufacturer makes a T-bar clip that hangs them from the ceiling grid, which is coming soon to the site; call us in the meantime and we will quote it with the mirror. Do not rely on a ceiling tile alone to carry a mirror.
Acrylic or polycarbonate for a convenience store?
Acrylic for most positions. It is clearer, lighter, and less expensive. Choose a polycarbonate convex mirror for the mirror nearest the front door or in any store that has had mirrors or fixtures vandalized; it is about 250 times the impact strength of glass and does not shatter.
How many mirrors does a typical convenience store use?
Three to five. One wide-view DomeVex in the back corner aimed at the register, one convex at the end of each aisle the clerk cannot see down, and a half dome over the stockroom door. Larger stores with an open floor add a full dome in the center of the ceiling.
Other facilities
Mirrors for other kinds of buildings
Restaurants
The mirror that pays for itself fastest in a restaurant is the one over the kitchen door.
See the mirrors
Offices
Office buildings have the same blind corners as any other building, plus a lot of people carrying coffee and looking at their phones.
See the mirrors
Parking Garages
A parking garage needs a convex mirror at every point where a driver has to commit to a turn without seeing what is around it: ramp turns, the exit onto the street, aisle corners at colum…
See the mirrorsRelated guides
Guides that go with this page
Convex vs dome mirror guide
The core decision for a store: one-direction convex at aisle ends versus multi-direction dome at corners and doorways.
Dome mirror sizing guide
How dome diameter relates to the floor area it covers before you order the ceiling mirror.
Dome mounting options
Ceiling, wall, and grid mounting for half and full domes.
Shop the categories
Every mirror on this page, by category
Round convex mirrors
Indoor acrylic and polycarbonate convex mirrors for aisle ends and walls.
DomeVex mirrors
180-degree wide-view mirrors for the register-to-back-corner sightline.
Dome mirrors
Half, full, quarter, and corner domes for doorways and open floors.
Rectangular convex mirrors
Low-clearance mirrors for soffits and cooler headers.
Placement and sizing on this page follow the application sheets published by the manufacturer of our mirrors, Se-Kure Domes & Mirrors, and the specifications of the products in our catalog. Sizes and materials named here are the ones we stock; if your building needs something the sheet does not cover, call and we will work it out with you.
Free sizing help
Send us a photo of the corner and we will tell you what fits
A picture from where the person stands, plus a rough distance to the spot you cannot see, is usually enough for us to name the mirror, the size, and the bracket.