Contents insurance

Buy contents insurance for less than £70/year ^[1]
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^[1]51% of our customers were quoted less than £69.04 for their contents home insurance in December 2024.

We compare prices from 37 trusted providers^[2], including:

See a full list of our home insurance providers

^[2]Correct as of December 2024.

What is contents insurance?

Contents insurance is a type of home insurance that financially protects the possessions in your property. It could cover the cost of replacing them if they’re stolen, destroyed or damaged.

Home contents insurance is different from buildings insurance, which covers the fabric of your home. That includes the walls, floors and roof, as well as permanent fixtures and fittings.

Contents-only insurance can be bought separately. Or, if you own your own home, it can be combined with buildings insurance as part of a home insurance policy.

What does contents insurance cover?

Home contents insurance covers your personal belongings. This typically means anything you’d take with you if you moved home. You’ll need to check the details of individual policies to be sure of what’s included.

Examples of the items that house contents insurance could cover:

Jewellery and watches
Expensive tech – TVs, phones, tablets and laptops. Some policies cover digital assets
Appliances – like fridges, freezers, washing machines
Furniture – like sofas, tables and bookcases
Furnishings – like carpets and curtains
Artwork, ornaments, books and collectables
Sporting equipment and musical instruments
Cash and important documents
Clothing
Fridge and freezer food
Items stored in sheds, garages or other outbuildings
Replacement locks and keys.

Contents insurance policies will often provide extra cover around special events, such as weddings and Christmas. Some policies also offer alternative accommodation cover if your home becomes uninhabitable.

If you’re moving home, some policies offer cover for damage to your contents when you move. That could include damage caused by a professional removal firm. You’ll need home insurance in place for the day of your move.

See our guide to insurance when moving home.

What risks does contents insurance cover?

You can expect household contents insurance to cover your belongings against unexpected events outside your control, such as:

Theft and vandalism
Fire and explosions
Flooding or burst pipes
Storms.

What’s not covered by home contents insurance?

Contents insurance doesn’t typically cover:

General wear and tear
Damage caused by improper or poor maintenance
The full cost to replace stolen or damaged items that are worth more than the single-item limit
Accidental damage – although you may be able to add cover for this as an optional extra
Deliberate damage by someone living in your home
Lost possessions
Theft through unforced entry – for example, if you leave a door or window unlocked
Faulty workmanship and bad DIY
Mechanical or electrical breakdown
Items you take out of your home – you may want to add on personal possessions cover for valuables you take out and about
Damage caused by pets.

Bicycles may be covered while they’re at home, but often only if they’re secured in particular ways and only up to the limit noted on your policy. If you like to cycle, check whether you need separate or extra cover for your bike.

Matching sets might not be covered unless specifically included in your policy. Most standard policies will only pay for the repair or replacement of the damaged item, not the entire set.

You also won’t be covered if your home is unoccupied for a set number of consecutive days – usually around 30 but sometimes up to 60.

What our expert says...

“There’s often confusion over what items are covered by contents insurance – especially those you take with you when you’re out and about. Check the details of your policy to see what is and isn’t covered.

Don’t forget that pricey individual items, like a bike or top-of-the-range laptop, may need to be listed separately on your policy if they’re worth more than the single-item limit.”

- Anna McEntee, Insurance expert

How does home contents insurance work?

Home insurance providers set up contents insurance policies based on how much cover you need. There are different ways of doing this:

Bedroom rated – the provider works out how much cover you need based on the number of rooms in your home
Sum insured – you work out how much home contents insurance you need based on the total value of the items in your home.
Unlimited cover – all your contents are covered without limit, but there may be limits for individual items.

How does house contents insurance pay out?

Polices could pay out in a couple of ways, depending on the type of contents insurance policy you choose:

Current value

Also known as indemnity-only cover. When you make a claim, you’ll be paid what the item is worth now, not its original price. This might not be enough to replace the item with a brand-new one.

New for old

Many contents policies now work on this basis. If you make a claim, the provider will work out how much it costs to replace the item with a brand-new one.

How does the excess work on contents insurance?

With any contents insurance policy, you’ll have to pay an excess if you make a valid claim. This is typically made up of:

A compulsory excess, which is decided by the insurance provider, plus
A voluntary excess, which is an amount you choose to pay towards a claim.

For example, if the compulsory excess is £100 and your voluntary excess is £200, you won’t be covered for the first £300 of any claim. You need to be able to afford the excess if you make a claim.

Do I need contents insurance?

Contents insurance isn’t compulsory. But it’s worth considering how much it would cost to replace everything in your home in the event of a break in, or a fire or flood.

Homeowner

Contents insurance offers cover for your possessions. Buildings insurance will protect the bricks and mortar of your home. You can often save money by combining the two from the same provider.

Renter

Contents insurance for tenants can cover your possessions, as well as any furniture and appliances. Your landlord is responsible for the property and should have buildings insurance in place.

Landlord

If you rent out a furnished property to tenants or holiday makers, you can protect your belongings against damage and theft with landlord contents insurance.

Student

If you live in halls of residence or a shared home, a student contents policy offers cover for your belongings.

Holiday homeowner

You might need specialist holiday home contents insurance for your second home if it’s left empty for long periods of time or you rent it out.

Tenant in a shared flat or HMO (house in multiple occupation)

You can protect your own belongings, without having to cover your flatmates’ possessions too, with room-only contents insurance.

How much is home contents insurance?

£42
a year for 10% of people ^[3]

£70
a year for 51% of people ^[1]

The cost of home contents insurance depends on several factors, including:

Where you live
If the surrounding area is at risk from flooding or crime
The total value of your possessions
If you want to insure any high-value items
The type of home you live in and whether you rent or own
Who you live with
How secure your home is
Your claims history.

^[1]51% of our customers were quoted less than £69.04 for their contents home insurance in December 2024.

^[3]10% of our customers were quoted less than £41.42 for their contents home insurance in December 2024.

What contents insurance add-ons are available?

When you compare contents insurance quotes with us, you can choose to add on extra cover for an additional cost, including:

Accidental damage – to cover accidents like spilling red wine on your new cream sofa.
Home emergency cover – could help with emergency repairs for burst pipes, clogged drains, boiler breakdowns and a broken window, for example.
Legal expenses – to cover the cost of legal advice and representation if someone makes a claim against you. For example, if someone is injured in your home or you have a dispute with a neighbour.
Personal possessions cover – also known as out-of-home cover, this can cover valuables you regularly take with you while you’re out and about. For example, your mobile, laptop, watch and handbag.
Student contents insurance – could help protect your children’s belongings while they’re away at university.

How can I get a cheaper contents insurance quote?

There are a few factors that could make your premiums more cost-effective.

Combine your contents insurance and buildings insurance

Combining contents and buildings insurance into a joint policy can often get you a discount with your provider. And it could make the claims process simpler if you make a claim that affects both the structure and contents of your home.

Make your home more secure

Improve your home security by adding an alarm or getting better locks for your doors and windows.

Offer to pay a higher excess

If you agree to a higher excess, it could bring down the cost of your contents insurance. But make sure you can afford your chosen excess if you need to make a claim.

Pay annually rather than monthly

Paying for your home contents insurance annually is typically cheaper than monthly instalments as you won’t be charged interest.

Accurately estimate the value of your contents

If you overestimate what your possessions are worth, you’ll end up paying more for your contents insurance than you need to. But underestimate and you won’t be adequately covered and could lose out if you make a claim.

Earn a no-claims discount

If you don’t make a claim for 12 months on your home insurance, you could earn a no claims discount and get a cheaper premium the following year.

Typically, you can build up your discount over nine consecutive years, but this varies among providers.

Compare quotes

It’s a good idea to shop around to make sure you’re getting the right deal for your home contents cover at the cheapest price.

You can search for home contents insurance here at Compare the Market. Just enter your details and the level of cover you need. Our contents insurance comparison will give you a list of quotes from a range of home insurance providers.

Start comparing today

How do I know how much my belongings are worth?

To estimate the value of your home contents accurately, go through your home, one room at a time, and add up the value of the contents inside. Don’t forget to include small, high-value items, such as jewellery, and remember to value older items at today’s replacement costs.

You’ll need contents insurance to cover the total worth of your belongings. For example, if you value your contents at £20,000 but they’re actually worth £40,000, you’ll be underinsured by 50%. If you were to make a claim, then your insurance provider is likely to pay only 50% of it.

If you overestimate how much your contents are worth, you’ll end up paying for more insurance than you need.

To help you work out how much your belongings are worth, we have a handy contents calculator you can use when you search for home insurance with Compare the Market .

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What do I need to get a quote?

To get a content insurance quote with Compare the Market, you’ll need to provide:

Details about your property, including your postcode and when your home was built.
Personal details, such as your profession, and if you own, rent or have a mortgage on your home.
Home security details, including what types of locks are fitted and whether you have a burglar alarm in place.
The total value of the contents of your home. Our contents calculator can help with that.
Details of any high-value items individually worth more than £1,500 that you want to cover, as well as any bicycles worth over £350.
If you want to insure personal possessions like jewellery, mobile phones or laptops outside of your home.
The type of policy you’re looking for – whether it’s contents only or combined contents and buildings insurance – and how much excess you want to pay.
If you’d like to add additional cover to your policy, such as home emergency cover or accidental damage.
Your claims history.

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Why use Compare the Market?

It’s quick

You can compare quotes from 37 home insurance providers^[2] in minutes.

You could save

We found that 51% of customers could save up to £212^[4] on their home insurance by comparing with us.

Quotes tailored to you

Use our quote tool to tell us about you and your home to see what policies will work for you.

Get a home contents insurance quote for as little as £5.75 a month^[5] (excluding interest) when you compare with us.

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^[2]Correct as of December 2024.

^[4]Based on online independent research by Consumer Intelligence during December 2024, 51% of customers could achieve this saving on their Buildings and Contents insurance through Compare the Market.

^[5]51% of our customers were quoted less than £5.75 per month in December 2024 for their contents insurance based on the monthly cost when paying for the policy in one annual payment, excluding any interest charged on instalment payments.

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Frequently asked questions

What is unlimited contents insurance?

Unlimited contents insurance covers everything in your home, with no maximum limit on the amount you can claim for. This type of contents insurance is sometimes called unlimited sum-insured.

But while there might not be an overall limit, there may be a limit on the amount you can claim for a single item – even though this will be higher than a standard contents policy.

Does contents insurance cover theft?

Yes, contents insurance can protect you against theft. But you won’t be covered if something is stolen from your home because of unforced entry – for example, through an unlocked door.

To protect items that you take with you when you’re out and about, like your phone or wallet, you’ll need personal possessions insurance.

Many contents policies will cover you for the cost of replacing locks if your keys are stolen or lost.

Does contents insurance cover bicycles?

Your home contents policy will usually cover bikes against theft while they’re stored at your property. You might need extra bicycle insurance to protect them away from your home.

If your bike is worth more than £350, let us know when you compare quotes. Depending on the provider, it may need to be listed separately under your policy as a high-risk item.

Are my garage and garden covered by contents insurance?

If your garage is attached to your home, it may be covered by a standard contents policy. Bear in mind that if it’s separate structure, it might be classed as an outbuilding. Check the policy wording to make sure you’re covered.

Look out for any cover limits. If you have expensive tools and other items stored in your garage, you may need to increase your cover.

Some contents policies will cover items in your garden, like patio furniture or a BBQ. But you may need to add extra garden cover if you have an expensive patio heater or a hot tub, for example.

What’s a single-article limit?

The single-article limit is the maximum you can claim for any single item on your home contents insurance, unless you specify it separately on the policy.

The single-article limit is often set at £1,500, but could be lower or higher depending on the provider. Check your policy to be sure.

When you take out a contents policy, make sure you list any items over the single-article limit, so you can claim for their full value.

What’s a high-risk item?

High-risk items are valuable possessions that could be easily stolen from your home. For example: jewellery, electrical goods, antiques and collectables.

When you get a quote with us, you'll need to list any high-risk items valued at more than £1,500.

Can I add new items to an existing contents insurance policy?

Most home contents insurance providers will let you update your policy to include new high-value items, such as an expensive TV. The best way to do this is by getting in touch with your provider.

In addition, some providers will increase your cover before and after special events, such as a wedding or Christmas.

Do I need proof of ownership for all my possessions?

It’s possible that proof of purchase may be needed, especially for high-value items. Some providers will stipulate in their policy documents that you need to provide a receipt or photo of any items that have been stolen or damaged before you can claim for them.

Is my home office covered by my contents insurance?

Your home office equipment – like your computer and printer – is typically covered by your home contents insurance.

You may need to list equipment separately if it’s worth more than the single-item limit. Check your policy documents to be sure. It’s also worth checking whether you need to tell your provider you work from home.

If your employer has given you equipment, then it’s their responsibility to insure it. You don’t need to add it to your home contents insurance policy.

If you have customers who come to your home, or you keep stock on the premises, you might need to consider dedicated business insurance.

What changes do I need to tell my insurance provider about while I’m covered by their policy?

Your insurance policy will typically set out what you need to tell your provider about during the term of your policy. This often includes:

Moving home
Having building work done
Changing the number of bathrooms or bedrooms
Installing solar panels
Having someone other than family live with you
Starting a business from home
Leaving your home unoccupied for a set number of days in a row
New items worth more than the single-item limit
Increasing the total value of your contents
A family member is convicted of an offence other than a driving offence.

If you don’t let your insurance provider know about these changes, any claim you make could be rejected. If you’re unsure if a change will affect your contents cover, ask your provider.

I pay monthly for my contents insurance. What happens if I can’t afford or miss a payment?

Your provider could cancel your policy as soon as a payment is missed. Generally, you’ll only be covered if you pay your premiums.

Talk to your provider if you know you can’t make a payment as they may be able to offer some short-term help.

Can I get short-term contents cover?

Yes, you can get short-term home insurance. It’s usually used to cover unoccupied properties.

For example, if you’re renovating a house before you move in, temporary contents insurance could protect your belongings while there’s no one living there.