Get notified about entrance activity that may indicate a delivery
Use a motion sensor near the front door to send a phone notification about entrance activity that may indicate a delivery, without claiming to confirm one.
Best for: A front entrance where packages are commonly left, and a household that wants a heads up without a video doorbell.
Not for: Confirming an actual package arrived; this only detects motion, not the presence of a package itself.
Why this exists
Missing a delivery notification from a carrier, or not hearing a knock, can mean a package sits outside longer than it should. A motion sensor near the entrance gives a general heads up that something happened at the door, prompting a quick check.
What I used
| Job | Good enough | Never think about it | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Detect motion near the front entrance | No personally verified recommendation yet | No personally verified recommendation yet | This specifically needs a sensor rated for outdoor exposure if it is mounted outside; the motion sensor options already covered are evaluated for indoor use. |
See recommended gear for the job-first checklist. Product recommendations and any future affiliate relationships are explained in the disclosure.
Logic
- Trigger: The entrance motion sensor detects movement.
- Conditions: No motion has already been detected within a short cooldown window, to avoid repeat notifications for the same visit.
- Action: Send a phone notification, such as “Motion detected at the front door.”
- Wait / timeout: None; the notification is sent as soon as motion is detected.
- Stop condition: Not applicable; each motion event is a separate notification, subject to any cooldown.
- Manual override: None needed; this is a passive alert rather than a controllable device.
Setup notes
- Mount a motion sensor rated for the entrance’s actual exposure, whether that is a covered porch or a fully exposed area.
- Aim the sensor to cover the area packages are typically left, without pointing at a public sidewalk or street where it would trigger constantly.
- Add a cooldown, such as 5 minutes, so a single visitor does not generate repeat notifications while lingering near the door.
- Test the notification by walking through the sensor’s detection area.
Advanced features
Time-of-day filtering
Suppress or lower the notification priority overnight, when deliveries are unlikely and the alert is more likely to be about something else worth noting differently.
Combine with a camera snapshot
If a camera already covers the entrance, attach a snapshot to the notification so it is possible to see what triggered the motion without walking to the door.
Failure modes
- Sensor triggers constantly from street traffic: Adjust the sensor’s position or angle to narrow its detection area to the entrance itself.
- Sensor misses a delivery: Check its detection range and confirm it covers where packages are actually placed, not just the walkway.
- Repeated notifications for one visit: Increase the cooldown period.
- Sensor fails outdoors after a period of use: Confirm it is actually rated for the exposure level at its mounting location; an indoor-rated sensor will degrade faster outside.
Done when
- The sensor reliably detects motion in the area packages are left.
- A single visit produces one notification, not several.
- The sensor does not trigger constantly from unrelated street activity.
- The sensor is rated appropriately for its actual outdoor exposure.
FAQ
Will this only trigger for actual deliveries?
No. It triggers on any motion near the front door, including people walking by, so it is a “something happened at the door” alert rather than a confirmed delivery alert.
How is this different from a video doorbell’s delivery detection?
A video doorbell with package recognition is more specific, but this recipe describes a plain motion sensor approach, which is simpler and works without a camera.
Does the sensor need to be rated for outdoor use?
Yes, if it is mounted outside a covered porch or in an area exposed to weather. Standard indoor motion sensors are not designed for that exposure.