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Home insurance calculator for 2023

Your home is a big investment, and home insurance is there to protect it. The average cost of homeowners insurance is $2,777 a year, which is $231 a month, nationwide. That's for $300,000 in dwelling coverage and liability with a $1,000 deductible.

Your coverage needs will be specific to your home, and it's important to get accurate quotes. How much home insurance costs depends on a lot of factors, including the size, age and location of the home. Make sure you know how much dwelling coverage you need to get the right quotes. It’s easy to compare rates with our home insurance calculator. Just enter your ZIP code and a few coverage basics to see homeowners insurance quotes for you.

Leslie KasperowiczBy  
John McCormickReviewed By John McCormick quality verified  
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To get accurate home insurance quotes, you need to know how much coverage you need, There are three major parts of a home insurance policy that you need to determine before getting quotes. The most important one, and the one that has the most impact on homeowners insurance rates, is your dwelling coverage.

Dwelling coverage

Dwelling coverage on home insurance is the amount of coverage for the house itself (the dwelling). It’s based on a replacement cost calculation and should be enough to rebuild your house; it’s not the same as your home’s market value, which is how much you could sell it for.

There are a few ways to calculate home replacement cost, including online calculators or hiring an appraiser. While insurance companies will calculate it for you, it’s good to have your own numbers to make sure you’re properly insured.

An accurate dwelling amount is vital to getting the best home insurance quotes and the right coverage. Take the time to make sure you have it right so you aren't underinsured.

Liability coverage

Homeowners liability insurance pays out when you or a family member are legally responsible for injuries or property damage to others. It covers:

  • Medical expenses for people who are hurt while in your home or on your property (or off your property, if you are responsible)
  • Damage caused to neighbors’ property, for example, if a tree on your property falls on someone's car
  • Legal fees if you are sued
  • Judgments resulting from a lawsuit, up to your policy limits.

Experts recommend at least $300,000 in liability coverage; if you have a lot of assets you should consider a higher limit.

Personal property

The other critical coverage is for your belongings. It's called personal property coverage. It's important to make an inventory of all the items you own so that you can determine how much personal property coverage you need.

Personal property coverage is typically 50% to 70% of your dwelling coverage limits. However, there are special limits on certain types of property. If you have valuable items, such as fine art, musical instruments, or expensive jewelry, you may need an endorsement to cover them.

You should also consider adding replacement cost coverage for your personal property. This ensures you’re covered for how the cost to replace each item new rather than for the actual cash value, which is the depreciated value.

Other home insurance coverage

Your home insurance policy also includes several other coverages. These are the standard coverages:

  • Additional living expenses/Loss of use. Pays for living expenses elsewhere during repairs from a covered claim, and is usually 20% of the dwelling coverage.
  • Other structures. Covers separate buildings like garages or sheds, usually at 10% of the dwelling coverage.
  • Medical payments. Pays medical bills for injuries on your property regardless of fault.

You may have options to adjust the amount of coverage for each of these, and may also be offered a wide range of optional add-ons for your policy. It’s best to take the time to consider each option.

Home insurance calculator

How to compare home insurance quotes

Home insurance rates will vary by company, so it’s important to know how to compare them.

  1. Make sure you know how much coverage you need and choose a deductible.
  2. Compare quotes apples-to-apples with the same coverage levels.
  3. Note any added perks that are included at no extra charge from each insurance company.
  4. Research each company you’re considering to check its reputation for financial stability, customer service, and claims satisfaction.
  5. Choose the company with the best combination of price, coverage, and reputation.

A home insurance calculator is a good way to get started on your home insurance shopping.

What factors are used to calculate homeowners insurance rates?

Exactly what you pay for home insurance depends on how much coverage you buy, your homeowner profile and other factors.

Insurance companies take these things into account to calculate home insurance cost:

  • The location of your home
  • The age and size of your home
  • The building materials used to construct the home
  • The number and severity of claims in your neighborhood
  • Your credit history
  • Your marital status
  • Risks like a trampoline, pool and some dog breeds
  • The claims history of the home
  • The frequency of severe weather and natural disasters in your area

HOME INSURANCE CALCULATOR

Average home insurance rates in CALIFORNIA

$200,000
$1,000
$100,000
94404 - Foster City
Dwelling $200,000, Deductible $1,000 and Liability $100,000.

AVERAGE RATE: $797

HIGHEST RATE: $1,179 LOWEST RATE: $496

Most & least expensive zip codes for homeowners insurance in California

Most Expensive

Zip CodeCityHighest Rate
92325Crestline$1,450
92391Twin Peaks$1,426
92321Cedar Glen$1,425
92352Lake Arrowhead$1,423

Least Expensive

Zip CodeCityLowest Rate
94086Sunnyvale$742
94085Sunnyvale$743
94087Sunnyvale$743
95051Santa Clara$743

Frequently asked questions

  • How much should I expect to pay for homeowners insurance?

    Home insurance premiums vary based on location, claims history, risk and even your credit history. You’ll pay more for home insurance if you’re in an area with higher claims. That may be a region with severe weather, such as hurricanes or tornadoes. It could also be an area with many break-ins and fires. You can get an estimate of your home insurance rates by looking at the average home insurance rates for common coverage levels below (rates are with a $1,000 deductible).

    Average rateDwelling coverageLiability
    $2,219$200,000$100,000
    $2,233$200,000$300,000
    $2,763$300,000$100,000
    $2,779$300,000$300,000
    $3,215$400,000$100,000
    $3,231$400,000$300,000
    $3,580$500,000$100,000
    $3,595$500,000$300,000
    $3,825$600,000$100,000
    $3,841$600,000$300,000

  • Why is my homeowners insurance quote so high?

    While each homeowner’s particular situation is unique, the following factors can increase home insurance quotes significantly:

    • You live in an area prone to severe storms (hurricanes, tornadoes, hailstorms)
    • There is a history of claims on the house you own
    • Your home or roof is more than 20 years old
    • You have bad credit
    • You have a pool, trampoline wood stove or a certain breed of dog
    • You live far from the nearest fire station or in a remote location

  • How can I lower my homeowners insurance rate?

    The best ways to lower your home insurance rate is by:

    • Comparison shopping: No two insurers will price a policy the same way because they assess risk differently and use their own formulas for deciding what you pay. You should compare quotes from at least three insurance companies once a year to be sure you are getting the coverage you want at the best price.
    • Maintain good credit: In nearly all states (Massachusetts, California, Hawaii and Washington are the exceptions) insurance companies are allowed to use your credit history when setting your rate. If you have good or excellent credit, you will pay much less.
    • Apply for discounts: Home insurance discounts can net you savings. But you may need to ask for them. While some discounts rely on factors that are out of your control to a degree, others are up to you. For instance, you can bundle your auto and home insurance, sign up for automatic online billing, or install security and safety systems.

Explore related calculators

If you are budgeting for renters or condo insurance coverage, we also have an insurance cost estimator for renters insurance and condo insurance. They work similarly to the home insurance calculator.

Home Insurance Calculator by Zip Code

Home Insurance Calculator by Zip Code

The average cost of homeowners insurance in the U.S. is $2,777 a year which is $231 a month, for $300,000 in dwelling coverage. Your insurance rate will vary based on where you live and factors specific to your home.

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Condo Insurance Calculator by Zip Code

Condo Insurance Calculator by Zip Code

The average cost of condo insurance is $63 a month, or $759 a year nationwide, but varies based on coverage level and where you live. Condo (HO-6) insurance covers everything your condo association doesn’t, including your personal property and liability.

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Renters Insurance Calculator by Zip Code

Renters Insurance Calculator by Zip Code

The average cost of renters insurance is $29 a month or $347 a year. Renters insurance protects your personal property and provides liability coverage, neither of which are covered by your landlord.

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