Renters insurance cost estimator
Four inputs and a model you can read. Renters coverage is the cheapest serious insurance on this site — here is what it should cost for your situation.
How this tool works
The model, printed in full: annual estimate = ($95 base + belongings × 0.25% + liability adjustment) × deductible factor × state factor. The liability adjustment is $0 at $100,000, +$18 at $300,000, +$30 at $500,000, +$45 at $1,000,000 — liability is cheap, which is exactly why raising it is usually smart. Deductible factors: $250 → ×1.10, $500 → ×1.00, $1,000 → ×0.92. The state factor (from your ZIP) reflects the published spread of state average premiums — roughly $140 to $260 around the $171 national average (III, citing NAIC) — running from ×0.88 in the lowest-cost states to ×1.30 in the highest. The displayed range is the estimate ±15%.
Calibration check: a renter with $30,000 of belongings, $100,000 liability, a $500 deductible, and an average-cost state lands within a few dollars of the published $171 national average. If your result looks nothing like your quote, the usual reasons are bundling discounts (often 5–10%+ with auto), building safety features, or a claims history the model cannot see.
Questions people ask
How much are my belongings actually worth?
Walk room to room and price replacement, not resale: furniture, electronics, clothing, kitchen gear, instruments, bikes. Most renters guess half their real total the first time.
Is renters insurance worth it if I own little?
The liability half still matters: one dog bite or one overflowed bathtub into the downstairs unit can exceed most belongings totals. At roughly $14/month average, the liability alone is often the point.
Does my landlord's policy cover my stuff?
No. It covers the building and the landlord's liability. Your belongings and your liability are yours to insure.
What does the state factor represent?
Published state average premiums differ by roughly ±50% around the national mean. The factor applies your state's position in that published spread — it is an estimate input, not an insurer's rating formula.
Sources: Insurance Information Institute, citing NAIC data (national average renters premium ≈ $171/yr; state averages roughly $140–$260) — used for the base anchor and state-factor spread.