Homeowners Insurance Calculator
Estimate your 2026 homeowners insurance premium and recommended dwelling, personal property, and liability coverage based on home value, region, and deductible.
Your Home
Recommended Coverage & Premium
Annual Premium
$1,841
$153/month
Dwelling (A)
$337,500
Personal Prop (C)
$202,500
Liability (E)
$300,000
Loss of Use (D)
$67,500
How much dwelling coverage do you need?
Dwelling coverage should match replacement cost — what it takes to rebuild with current labor and materials. This is typically 70-80% of market value (the difference is the land). Under-insuring triggers the 80% coinsurance clause, and partial claims get reduced proportionally. Ask your insurer to run MSB or 360Value replacement-cost estimator yearly.
Standard HO-3 policy coverages
- Coverage A — Dwelling: the house structure
- Coverage B — Other Structures: usually 10% of A (detached garage, fence)
- Coverage C — Personal Property: 50-70% of A
- Coverage D — Loss of Use: 20-30% of A (hotel, meals during repair)
- Coverage E — Liability: $100k-$500k typical; $300k minimum
- Coverage F — Medical Payments: $1k-$5k for guest injuries
2026 premium benchmarks
National average is ~$1,915/year for a $300k dwelling on an HO-3 policy with $1k deductible. Regional multipliers: coastal (FL, TX Gulf, Carolinas) ~1.6×, wildfire zones (CA, CO, OR) ~1.5×, tornado belt (OK, KS, MO, IA) ~1.3×, inland low-risk ~0.95×. Masonry construction runs ~10% cheaper than frame.
Hurricane / wind / hail deductibles
Coastal and hail-belt states apply a separate percentage deductible for named storms or wind/hail — usually 2-5% of dwelling coverage. On a $500k dwelling with a 5% hurricane deductible, you pay $25k before the insurer starts. Check your declarations page carefully.
Common questions about Home Insurance
Should dwelling coverage equal my home's market value?+
No. Dwelling coverage should equal your replacement cost — what it costs to rebuild from foundation up with current labor and materials, excluding land. That's typically 70-80% of market value in most US markets, but can exceed market value in low-land-value rural areas. Have your insurer run a Replacement Cost Estimator (MSB, 360Value). Under-insuring triggers the 80% coinsurance clause — partial claims get reduced proportionally.
What is personal property coverage and do I need more?+
Coverage C protects your belongings (furniture, electronics, clothes), typically set at 50-70% of dwelling coverage. Most policies use Actual Cash Value (ACV) by default — depreciated value at time of loss. Upgrade to Replacement Cost (RC) for ~10% more premium. Sublimits apply: jewelry ($1,500), cash ($200), firearms ($2,500), business property ($2,500). Schedule valuable items via an endorsement with an appraisal.
How much liability coverage should I carry?+
Minimum $300k on the policy, $500k-$1M if you have assets to protect. Better: buy a $1-2M personal umbrella policy on top of underlying auto + home limits (cost ~$150-300/year for $1M). One dog bite lawsuit or pool accident can exceed home liability limits; umbrella catches the overage plus covers libel/slander/rental properties that home policies exclude. Essential once net worth crosses $500k.
What is a hurricane deductible?+
In coastal states (TX, FL, LA, MS, AL, GA, SC, NC, VA, MD, DE, NJ, NY, CT, RI, MA, ME), named-storm claims trigger a separate deductible — typically 2% to 5% of dwelling coverage, not a flat dollar amount. On a $500k dwelling with a 5% hurricane deductible: you owe $25k before the insurer pays a cent. Many homeowners don't realize this until after a storm. Some carriers let you buy it down to 1% for an extra premium.
Does standard homeowners cover flood or earthquake?+
No. Both require separate policies. Flood via NFIP (FEMA, $500-$2,500/yr typical in moderate-risk zones, more in A/V zones) or private flood carriers (Neptune, Wright Flood). Earthquake via state-specific plans (California Earthquake Authority) or endorsement, usually with 10-15% deductibles. 25% of flood claims happen outside high-risk zones. Consider both in the Gulf/Atlantic coast and any seismic zone.
How much can I save by raising my deductible?+
Raising deductible from $1,000 to $2,500 typically saves 10-15%; going to $5,000 saves 20-25%. On a $2,000 annual premium, that's $200-500/year. Break-even: the savings pay off the higher deductible in 5-10 claim-free years. Only do it if you have the higher deductible in liquid emergency savings. Note this is separate from any hurricane/wind deductible, which is usually a fixed percentage.
What is Extended or Guaranteed Replacement Cost?+
Standard dwelling coverage pays up to the policy limit. Extended Replacement Cost adds 25-50% buffer (handles cost inflation, code upgrades). Guaranteed Replacement Cost (fewer carriers offer it) pays whatever rebuild costs, no cap. After major disasters (wildfires, hurricanes) labor and materials often spike 30-50%, leaving Standard-only homeowners underinsured. ERC endorsement usually costs under $50/year — cheapest catastrophe insurance you can buy.