Contents insurance calculator

Key takeaways

• Use our calculator and add up the replacement cost of everything you own, from furniture to small household items, to estimate the right level of contents cover

• Check your policy’s single item limits and list high value possessions separately so they’re fully insured

• Consider personal possessions cover if you regularly carry valuable items like phones, laptops or jewellery outside the home

How much contents insurance do I need?

You might not own priceless artwork or antique jewellery, but the value of everyday belongings can add up quickly. Especially when you include items like laptops, tablets, TVs and furniture.

Your contents ‘sum insured’ should reflect the total cost of replacing everything in your home with new items if they were destroyed or stolen.

This includes items such as:

• Furniture (sofas, beds, wardrobes)

• Electronics and gadgets (laptops, tablets, TVs)

• Kitchen appliances

• Clothing and shoes

• Jewellery and watches

• Curtains, carpets and rugs

Many insurers recommend calculating the full replacement value, not what your belongings are worth today.

Why does this matter?

If your sum insured is too low, you could be underinsured. This means the insurer may reduce your payout if you make a claim because the cover didn’t reflect the true value of your belongings.

For example:

• Total value of contents in your home: £50,000

• Contents cover selected: £30,000

If you made a £10,000 claim, the insurer might only pay around £6,000, because your home was insured for 60% of its actual value.

Use our contents calculator

Our contents calculator helps estimate the replacement value of the items in your home. It asks about typical belongings in each room, such as furniture, electronics and clothing, and applies average replacement costs to produce an estimated total.

The result is intended as a guide, based on typical household items and retail prices. The actual value of your contents may differ depending on what you own, so it’s important to review your belongings and adjust your cover if needed.

How should I estimate the value of my home contents?

To estimate the value of your home contents, start by going through your home room by room and listing the items you would want to replace if they were destroyed or stolen, for example after a fire or flood.

Next, estimate how much it would cost to replace each item with a new equivalent today. This is known as the replacement cost, which may be different from what you originally paid.

You can check receipts, but it’s often easier to look up the current price of a similar item online. For valuables such as jewellery or antiques, you may need a professional valuation to get an accurate figure.

Once you’ve estimated the replacement cost of your belongings, add everything together to calculate your total contents value. This total becomes the sum insured for your contents policy.

What should I include in my home contents estimate?

Your estimate should include all the items in your home that you would take with you if you moved, but not permanent fixtures covered by buildings insurance, such as fitted kitchens or built-in wardrobes.

Common items to include are:

• Furniture (sofas, tables, wardrobes)

• Curtains, carpets and rugs

• Electronics and gadgets (TVs, laptops, tablets)

• Kitchen appliances and cookware

• Freestanding appliances (washing machines, microwaves)

• Clothes, shoes and accessories

• Watches and jewellery

• Books, toys and hobby items

• Cosmetics and toiletries

• Garden furniture and barbecues

• Shed or garage contents such as tools and bikes

Small everyday items can add up quickly, so including everything helps you avoid underinsuring your belongings.

What about high value items?

Most contents insurance policies have a single item limit, which is the maximum amount you can claim for one possession unless it’s specifically listed on your policy.

If you own valuables such as jewellery, watches or artwork worth more than around £1,500 to £2,000, you’ll usually need to declare them separately so they’re fully covered. Insurers may also ask for proof of value, such as a receipt or professional valuation.

Very valuable items may require specialist cover, and it’s worth reviewing valuations every few years to ensure your insurance reflects their current value.

Is it worth taking out personal possessions cover?

Standard contents insurance protects the belongings kept inside your home. However, items you take out with you, such as phones, laptops, jewellery or handbags, may not be covered once they leave the house.

Personal possessions cover extends your protection outside the home, covering items if they’re lost, stolen or damaged while you’re out and about.

This type of cover may be worth considering if you regularly carry valuable items, travel frequently, or use gadgets like laptops or tablets away from home.

Some insurers offer it as an optional add-on to contents insurance, while others provide standalone policies.

If you rarely take expensive items outside the home, standard contents cover may be enough but if you do, personal possessions cover can provide extra peace of mind.

Compare contents insurance with MoneySuperMarket

It’s quick and easy to compare contents insurance quotes with MoneySuperMarket. Simply enter a few details about your home and belongings to see policies from a range of insurers in minutes.