Our take

When shopping for renters insurance, look for more than a low price. A company with a good reputation will be there for you when you need it.

The good news is that our top two companies have the lowest rates along with solid reputations, and are available nationwide. That makes either of them a really good choice.

Best renters insurance companies

Most insurance companies offer renters policies, making the process of choosing overwhelming. To simplify the process, we reviewed dozens of carriers looking for cheap renters insurance rates along with a good reputation. Here are the top renters insurance companies overall based on rates, customer service, complaints and financial stability. Not all companies operate in all states.

CompanyJ.D. Power scoreNAIC complaint ratioAM Best ratingAverage rate $40k/$1k/$100kInsurance.com rating (out of 5)
State Farm8290.95A++$1844.72
Amica8440.23A+$1924.6
Erie8560.38A+$2534.56
Auto-Owners8340.33A++$2184.51
Allstate8090.9A+$2454.41
American Family8130.37A$2574.32
Nationwide8120.87A+$2854.3
Farmers8000.54A$3004.11
Travelers7900.54A++$3873.97
Progressive7918.45A+$2012.08

Best national renters insurance companies

These are the best companies available nationwide; we consider a company offering policies in 40 states or more to be national.

CompanyJ.D. Power scoreNAIC complaint ratioAM Best ratingAverage rate $40k/$1k/$100kInsurance.com rating (out of 5)
State Farm8290.95A++$1844.72
Amica8440.23A+$1924.6
Allstate8090.9A+$2454.41
Nationwide8120.87A+$2854.3
Farmers8000.54A$3004.11
Travelers7900.54A++$3873.97
Progressive7918.45A+$2012.08

Best regional renters insurance companies

These are the best renters insurance companies operating in a smaller portion of the country.

CompanyJ.D. Power scoreNAIC complaint ratioAM Best ratingAverage rate $40k/$1k/$100kInsurance.com rating (out of 5)
Erie8560.38A+$2534.56
Auto-Owners8340.33A++$2184.51
American Family8130.37A$2574.32

How we chose the best renters insurance companies

We gathered data on renters insurance companies from trusted third-party sources: AM Best, the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) and J.D. Power. We then gathered average renters insurance rates for a policy with $40,000 in personal property coverage, $100,000 in liability coverage and a $1,000 deductible. Using these important factors, we ranked the top companies in the nation for renters insurance.

Top renters insurance companies

Get the details on our five top renters insurance companies overall here.

State Farm

State Farm is the largest insurer in the country and one of the oldest. In addition, the carrier consistently ranks well with customers and has the strongest financial strength rating of A++. It's the cheapest company we ranked at an average of $184 a year.

Pros:

  • Low rates
  • Several ways to file a claim (in-person, over the phone, online, through the app)
  • Offices and agents available nationwide

Cons:

  • You are required to have an agent, even if you prefer to handle things online
  • Wasn't the top company in J.D. Power's survey

State Farm’s renters policies can vary from one state to another, largely due to state regulations.

State Farm renters insurance discounts available include:

  • Auto and renters bundle
  • Home safety devices

Amica

Amica has consistently been one of J.D. Power's top-rated insurance companies for home insurance, both for overall satisfaction and for claims handling. Among the companies we ranked, Amica has the second-lowest average rates at $192 a year.

Pros:

  • Low rates
  • High J.D. Power scores
  • Lowest complaint ratio of ranked companies

Cons:

  • No agents available, direct sales only
  • Not available in Alaska or Hawaii

Amica renters insurance discounts include:

  • Multi-line (bundling)
  • Loyalty
  • E-discount (paperless)
  • Claims-free
  • Autopay

Erie

Erie is highly rated by J.D. Power and offers affordable renters insurance rates with all of the standard coverage you expect.

Pros:

  • Low rates
  • Excellent J.D. Power rating
  • Several discounts

Cons:

  • No online quoting
  • Not available in all states

Erie renters insurance discounts include:

  • Auto and renters bundling
  • Multi-policy discount with other policy types
  • Home safety devices
  • Advance quote
  • Age of insured

Auto-Owners

Auto-Owners is a super-regional company that consistently ranks among the best in the nation for home and renters insurance. Rates are not the lowest, but Auto-Owners boasts the highest possible AM Best financial stability score.

Pros:

  • Highly rated with J.D. Power
  • Top AM Best score
  • Lots of discounts

Cons:

  • Not available in all states
  • No online quoting; policies are only sold through agents

Auto-Owners renters insurance discounts:

  • Multi-policy discount (bundling with auto, life)
  • Payment history (on time)
  • Green discount (paperless)
  • Protective devices
  • Favorable loss history (claims-free)
  • Paid in full
  • Advance quote
  • Hurricane/wind mitigation (SC and FL only)

Allstate

Allstate has the cheapest renters' insurance rates of the companies we surveyed outside of USAA, which is only open to military families.

Pros:

  • Cheap rates
  • Available nationwide
  • Easy online quoting

Cons:

  • Lower J.D. Power rating
  • You're required to have an agent, even if you prefer to handle things online

Allstate renters insurance discounts:

  • Auto and renters bundling
  • 55+ and retired
  • Easy pay plan
  • Windstorm mitigation (in some areas)

Best renters insurance companies by state

Select your state below to see the average annual rate.

Currently showing results for Texas
Company nameMin of $40,000/$100,000

How to compare renters insurance companies

Not sure how to choose the best renters insurance company? Comparing renters insurance companies takes just a few simple steps.

  • Request quotes from three to five companies, ensuring the coverage level is the same on each policy.
  • Review the coverage and check for any extras or exclusions that differentiate them.
  • Compare the rates.
  • Look at each company's reputation using J.D. Power, AM Best and any other third-party ratings to ensure the company is reputable.

How much does renters insurance cost?

Insurance.com found that the average cost of renters insurance is $247 per year, which is only $21 per month. However, your premiums may be lower based on where you live, the level of coverage you get and the carrier you choose.

Why do I need renters insurance?

Without renters insurance, there is no coverage for your personal property. Many renters think that they don't own anything of a high value, so they don't need coverage. But imagine what would happen if the home you rent were to burn to the ground. How much would it cost to replace everything you own?

That includes all of your furniture, clothes, dishes, electronics and everything else in your home. It's easy to underestimate the value of all of your belongings. You don't have to own fancy jewelry or expensive home theater equipment to make renters insurance a worthwhile investment.

Most carriers will pay for damages caused if your water heater fails or a pipe leaks. However, they are not typically covered if your belongings are lost due to flooding from heavy rainstorms or a hurricane. Renters can purchase flood insurance if they live in high-risk areas.

Methodology

Insurance.com rated renters insurance companies based on average annual rates, sourced from Quadrant Data Services in 2023, J.D. Power ratings, complaint ratios from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) and AM Best Financial ratings. Rates were gathered for $40,000 in personal property coverage with $100,000 in liability and a $1,000 deductible.

Frequently asked questions about renters insurance

Is renters insurance required?

No law requires you to buy renters insurance, but some landlords require it as part of the lease agreement.

What factors should you consider while choosing renters insurance?

The best way to find cheap renters insurance and quality coverage is by shopping around and comparing renters insurance quotes from several companies. Before you choose renters insurance, take a look at what your deductible is and the types of coverage offered. You may want to add options such as flood coverage or replacement cost for additional coverage. Our renters insurance guide has everything you need to know.