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We gather quotes from the leading home insurance providers in the UK, including:
Contents insurance is a type of home insurance policy that covers personal belongings and possessions in your house in the event of loss, damage, or theft.
This type of policy also protects your belongings from events outside your control, including fire, storms, floods, ground moving below your property (aka subsidence) and water leaks.
Contents insurance only offers protection for items within your home and can be purchased separately, but you can also combine contents and buildings insurance under one home insurance policy.
What cover you need will depend on your living situation and what you want insured and where i.e. contents insurance typically only covers items while they're in your home, not items you have on you while out and about.
Contents insurance generally covers anything you'd take with you if you were to move home. Any individual items worth over £1,000, such as engagement rings or high-value gadgets like laptops, are not usually covered unless listed out separately on your policy. You can list these out when getting a quote.
✔ Gadgets - such as mobile phones, laptops and cameras
✔ Electrical items - such as televisions, desktops and games consoles
✔ Money and financial documents - bonds and deeds, for instance
✔ Furniture - sofas, chairs, tables
✔ Furnishings - such as curtains and carpets
✔ White goods
✔ Clothing
✔ Jewellery and watches
✔ Artwork, ornaments, books
✔ Sporting equipment and musical instruments
✖ Any damage the building (you'll need buildings insurance for this)
✖ Wear and tear or damage that happens naturally as the item ages
✖ Mechanical or electrical breakdown
✖ Deliberate damage caused by you or your family
✖ Frost damage
✖ Damage caused by children or pets
✖ Spillages or stains
✖ DIY incidents
On average, customers pay this amount for contents insurance a year.
10% of customers pay this amount or less for a contents insurance policy.
Claims on contents insurance are more common than you think. Last year, the Association of British Insurers announced that home insurance claim pay-outs reached £4.1 billion.
The easiest way to work out if contents insurance is worth it for you is to write down a list of all your possessions and how much it would cost to replace them. If the figure is more than you'd like to pay, then contents insurance could be a wise choice. We've pulled together a short list of common items and the average cost to replace them, listed by genuine customers when getting a quote.
Common items listed by customers | Average cost to replace the item |
|---|---|
Laptops, tablets, notebooks | £1000[5] |
Televisions | £1500[5] |
Jewellery | £3000[5] |
Clothing and personal effects | £2050[5] |
Insurers use three methods for working out how much cover you need:
Bedroom rated - this is where the cover is calculated based on the number of rooms in your home
Sum insured - is the cover based on the estimate of the total value of the things you own
Unlimited cover - this covers everything up to an unlimited amount (there may be limits for particularly expensive belongings)
A good way of figuring out how much cover you need is to calculate how much it would cost to replace all of the possessions in your home. This typically includes items you would take with you if you moved. The total you estimate would be your "sum insured" - the maximum amount your provider would pay out.
It's worth being as accurate as possible to avoid underinsuring, which would leave you short if you ever needed to claim, and overinsuring, which would lead to higher premiums.
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New for old cover is designed to replace damaged or stolen items with a brand new alternative, even if the item had depreciated in value over time. So, if your old TV is stolen or damaged, you'll receive a more recent equivalent as a replacement.
It's the best type of policy if you ever need to make a claim, because it doesn't matter if your belongings lose value over time. However, these policies tend to be more expensive.
An indemnity insurance policy takes into account the current market value of the item you're claiming for. So, if the TV you paid £1,000 for four years ago is stolen, your insurer will only pay what the TV is worth now, which is likely to be less than the £1,000 you paid for it.
This type of policy tends to be cheaper because the pay-out reflects depreciation or wear and tear, so you're unlikely to get back the full value, just the cost of replacing an item of the same age or condition as yours.
When getting a quote for contents insurance you’ll notice you have to list any valuables over the value of £1,000. This is because of the single-article limit – the maximum amount an insurer will pay out for an individual item not listed. While the exact limit will depend on the policy and insurer, it will generally be between £1,000 and £1,500.
Any items you add to the list will be added to your policy individually and separately, in case you ever need to claim for them. The more high-value items you add, the more likely it is to raise the price of your policy.
It’s sometimes worth looking into specialist insurance policies to see if you can insure valuables separately. Jewellery insurance, for example, may provide better terms and conditions on what you can and can’t claim for if jewellery is lost, stolen or damaged.
Item | Average cost to replace |
|---|---|
Jewellery | £3000[5] |
Laptops, tables, notebooks | £1000[5] |
Musical instruments | £2500[5] |
Televisions | £1500[5] |
Watches | £4000[5] |
Home contents insurance isn’t a legal requirement – but it is a good idea. Here are some people who could benefit from taking out a policy:
Homeowners tend to have a lot of possessions. Some of the most expensive items in the home are covered by contents insurance, such as TVs, computers and laptops, furniture, fridges and washing machines.
Your landlord will likely have a buildings insurance policy in place already, but that won't protect your possessions in cases of burglary, fire, flooding or storm damage.
If you're living at university it's usually quite quick to work out how much it would cost to replace your possessions. Think laptops, mobile phones, jewellery and clothing. You even might have bought expensive textbooks for your course.
If you furnish your rented property, then landlord contents insurance will cover you against theft and damage for any items such as furniture, furnishings like curtains and blinds, as well as any items stored away in cupboards or lofts.
Here are some ways to save money on your contents insurance policy:
If you're a student, you may be eligible for student discounts on contents insurance. Some insurance providers often offer home insurance policies that are designed for university students, while others offer it as an optional add-on to an existing home insurance policy.
If you're a first-year student living in university accommodation, you may already have contents insurance through your accommodation provider.
For high-value items like jewellery, art, or antiques, consider adding itemised cover to your policy. This provides specific coverage for these valuable items rather than a blanket policy. This will also come in handy should you ever need to make a claim on any specific items.
You can combine your home insurance policy for a better price. For example, you can combine your home insurance and contents insurance or contents insurance with your building insurance policy. If you also have both home and car insurance with the same provider, you may be eligible for a multi-policy discount.
Prices vary between insurance companies, so get a range of quotes from different insurers to see how much you could save. Be clear about the level of cover you need to get accurate quotes and once you’ve found the best deal, don't forget to shop around when it's time to renew insurance.
If you don’t need any added insurance extras like accidental damage cover, you could cut your cost by opting for basic cover only. But bear in mind that will limit the amount you can claim for.
High-quality locks, burglar alarms, smoke alarms and joining a Neighbourhood Watch scheme can all reduce your premiums. The safer your home, the less likely you may need to claim on an insurance policy. But check with insurers before installing expensive security that may not help reduce cost.
Most insurance policies include an 'excess', which is the amount you pay towards any claim. If you agree to increase the excess you will usually pay a lower upfront cost. But bear in mind that you will need to stump up the amount of the excess if you need to claim.
Insurers usually reward people who have not made any claims in the past with a cheaper policy premium. You may even be able to protect your no-claims discount after you’ve built it up.
Contents insurance is the simplest way to insure your possessions in the home. But watch out for over or underinsuring. It’s important to be as accurate as possible when estimating the value of the contents in your home, because underinsuring may leave you out of pocket if you have to make a claim, and over-insuring will result in higher premiums from the outset.
Be aware of the single article limit too. If you have any possessions worth over £1,000, such as jewellery or watches, then you’ll need to list them out separately. Insurers will only pay out up to the value of the single article limit for any individual item that isn’t listed as a high-value item.
David McDermottroe Home & Van Insurance Expert
Contents insurance protects your belongings from most major threats, but not everything will be covered as standard. If you want extra peace of mind, you should think about adding the following:
This is for when you accidentally break a possession, for instance knocking over an ornament while doing the dusting. It’s easily done, but could be long lamented if you don’t have the right cover for accidents.
This protects your possessions while you’re out and about, but you usually have to declare which items you want to cover, supplying your insurance company with details and values.
This will cover the costs if you need any assistance or repairs because of a domestic emergency, such as a burst pipe or broken boiler. Either can be a nightmare that you want sorted out as soon as possible.
If your children are away at university and they take their laptop or phone with them, you may be able to arrange affordable cover for their belongings.
You can add extra insurance cover for any valuable items you own if their value exceeds the limits of your policy. That usually means individual items worth £1,000 or more.
Legal expenses insurance can help you cover the cost of certain legal fees, such as boundary disputes and personal injury claims which can arise when you least expect it.
When you make a claim on your contents insurance policy, you'll typically need to follow these steps:
Report the claim: Contact your insurer as soon as possible to report the incident. Provide details about the damage or loss and any relevant information and as much proof as possible, such as a police report number.
Gather evidence: Collect any evidence that supports your claim, such as photos, receipts, or repair estimates.
Complete the claim form: Your insurer will provide you with a claim form to complete. Be thorough and accurate in providing all the required information.
Assessment and valuation: Your insurer may send a loss adjuster to assess the damage and value your belongings. They will determine the replacement cost or repair cost, based on the market value of your items. Once the claim is processed and approved, your insurer will typically pay the claim amount directly to you or the repairer.
It's important to note that you'll usually need to pay an excess, which is a fixed amount you contribute towards each claim. This amount is typically stated in your policy documents. Additionally, your insurer may have specific guidelines for valuing items, such as using valuation services for high-value items like jewellery or antiques.
By following these steps and providing the necessary documentation, you can streamline the claims process.
Whatever cover you’re looking for, the easiest way to find the best policy is by comparing quotes online. You can compare policies in one simple search on MoneySuperMarket.
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Contents insurance does cover theft as standard, but most policies will cost more if you also want theft cover for your belongings when you take them out of the house. Likewise, high-value items may need to be itemised on your policy to ensure they are covered.
Contents insurance does cover mobile phones, but if your phone is worth more than a certain value, often £1,000, you’ll have to inform your insurer that you need it covered specifically.
For electronic items you use a lot, including those you carry with you when you leave the house, you might want to consider taking out a more specialised gadget policy.
It does, but if it's worth more than the single-item limit listed in the small print, often around £1,000, you will need to inform your insurer that you own it. Bikes aren’t usually covered by contents insurance when you have them outside the home. You need a separate out-of-home policy add-on for that.
The single-item limit is the most an insurer will pay to replace any individual items that hasn’t been specifically listed. The limit will depend on your provider and will be specified in your home insurance policy, but it's often around £1,000. If you need to cover anything worth more than that, you should mention it as a high-risk item.
As well as there being a cover limit for your items, there are other exclusions that may affect your claims. For example, some providers also have a maximum claim limit for all valuable items. So, if several items are stolen or damaged at once, you may not be able to reclaim their full value.
High-risk items are your most valuable possessions, the ones which cost the most to replace. You need to let your insurer know about each one, and you'll be able to specify items when comparing quotes for home insurance.
Your home office equipment is likely to be covered under your contents policy, but it's always worth double checking the fine print to make sure.
Most insurers let you do this, but you’ll need to get in touch with them if you’ve made a major purchase. If you claim without telling them, then it may prove hard to claim the money back for any items.
Some home insurance policies will cover the contents of your garden and outbuildings - like a garage or shed - as standard. However, many won’t, and which means you may have to pay extra. Make sure you check before you buy a policy.
You might do, especially for high-value items. It’s a good idea to keep the receipts for everything you have when you take out insurance.
Yes, the cost of your policy will likely increase if you make a claim on your insurance, as you will lose your no claims discount. The more claims you make, the higher the risk you are to insurers. Therefore, you're more likely to pay more next time you renew.
When it comes to claiming on your contents insurance, think about if it's cheaper to just pay for a repair or replacement yourself first. If your excess makes up the majority of your claim, it's unlikely to be worth claiming for, as you might end up paying more in the long run.
Most home insurance policies won't cover you for any damage caused by damp and condensation.
When you get a quote, you will agree to a list of assumptions, and one of them is that your home is in good condition, and isn't subject to any risks such as damp.
If you do not declare that your home has damp issues or inform your insurance provider if your home develops damp during your policy term, your insurer will not pay out if you need to make a claim.
Yes, to get a no claims discount (NCD) you will need to keep your policy in place for least one year. After this point, many insurers will offer you a lower price on your insurance. For every year you have home insurance and don't make a claim, you should receive an extra discount on your next quote.
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The annual premium that 10% of our customers paid in March 2025 where the cover type purchased was contents insurance.
Accurate as of 21 May 2025.
Data based on the median premium of contents insurance policies sold through MoneySuperMarket in March 2025.
Data based on the median cost to replace items listed by MoneySuperMarket customers between February 2025 and April 2025.
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