Best homeowners insurance companies: Pros and cons
Below are the companies that earned a perfect 5-star rating under NerdWallet’s scoring system. Learn more about our top home insurance companies by reading the brief summaries below and checking out our comprehensive reviews.
States served: All states and Washington, D.C.
Company overview: Chubb targets owners of expensive homes, tailoring much of its experience toward well-to-do clients. It offers a substantial number of coverage options, including atypical ones such as HomeScan, which helps uncover issues with your home that require attention before they can cause damage.
Chubb also offers extended replacement cost coverage for your dwelling and replacement value for your belongings as part of its standard policy — another unusual benefit for consumers. This means that if your home costs more than expected to rebuild after a covered disaster, Chubb will pay more than your selected dwelling limit to help cover the cost. It also means that you’ll receive enough of a payout to buy brand-new replacements for your damaged belongings, rather than getting only their depreciated value.
Chubb has significantly fewer complaints to state regulators than expected for a company of its size, according to three years’ worth of data from the NAIC.
How to find the best home insurance policy in five common scenarios
Below are the companies that earned a perfect 5-star rating under NerdWallet’s scoring system. Learn more about our top home insurance companies by reading the brief summaries below and checking out our comprehensive reviews.
States served: All states and Washington, D.C.
Company overview: Chubb targets owners of expensive homes, tailoring much of its experience toward well-to-do clients. It offers a substantial number of coverage options, including atypical ones such as HomeScan, which helps uncover issues with your home that require attention before they can cause damage.
Chubb also offers extended replacement cost coverage for your dwelling and replacement value for your belongings as part of its standard policy — another unusual benefit for consumers. This means that if your home costs more than expected to rebuild after a covered disaster, Chubb will pay more than your selected dwelling limit to help cover the cost. It also means that you’ll receive enough of a payout to buy brand-new replacements for your damaged belongings, rather than getting only their depreciated value.
Chubb has significantly fewer complaints to state regulators than expected for a company of its size, according to three years’ worth of data from the NAIC.
You’re a first-time home buyer
We get it. The homebuying process can be a whirlwind and getting a homeowners policy may feel like one more item to check off a seemingly endless to-do list. But it’s still worth understanding the basics to make sure you’re financially protected.
For a quick primer, check out the essential terms to understand in your homeowners policy. Then, consider setting a calendar reminder to call your insurer six months after closing. By that point, you’ll be settled in and have a bit more time to double-check that you’ve got all the coverage you need.
We get it. The homebuying process can be a whirlwind and getting a homeowners policy may feel like one more item to check off a seemingly endless to-do list. But it’s still worth understanding the basics to make sure you’re financially protected.
For a quick primer, check out the essential terms to understand in your homeowners policy. Then, consider setting a calendar reminder to call your insurer six months after closing. By that point, you’ll be settled in and have a bit more time to double-check that you’ve got all the coverage you need.
You live in a high-risk area
Is your region prone to hurricanes, wildfires, earthquakes or other disasters? If so, you might want to spend a little extra time researching your coverage options.
For example, most homeowners policies don't cover damage from floods and earthquakes, so you may need to purchase additional insurance. If you live along the coast, you may have a separate windstorm or hurricane deductible that’s higher than your standard deductible for other disasters. A local agent can help you assess your risks and make sure you’re fully covered.
Is your region prone to hurricanes, wildfires, earthquakes or other disasters? If so, you might want to spend a little extra time researching your coverage options.
For example, most homeowners policies don't cover damage from floods and earthquakes, so you may need to purchase additional insurance. If you live along the coast, you may have a separate windstorm or hurricane deductible that’s higher than your standard deductible for other disasters. A local agent can help you assess your risks and make sure you’re fully covered.
You have a dog
If your furry pal bites a visitor or attacks someone at the dog park, the liability section of your home insurance policy may be able to help with resulting legal or medical expenses. But don’t just assume you’re covered.
Some insurance companies exclude certain breeds such as pit bulls or Rottweilers, while others won’t cover animal liability claims unless you add extra coverage to your policy. Check with your insurance company or agent to make sure your canine companion is properly covered.
If your furry pal bites a visitor or attacks someone at the dog park, the liability section of your home insurance policy may be able to help with resulting legal or medical expenses. But don’t just assume you’re covered.
Some insurance companies exclude certain breeds such as pit bulls or Rottweilers, while others won’t cover animal liability claims unless you add extra coverage to your policy. Check with your insurance company or agent to make sure your canine companion is properly covered.
You own valuable items
If you have expensive belongings, such as an antique diamond ring or a high-end guitar, check whether your homeowners policy offers enough coverage for them. Many valuable items are insured for theft only up to certain sublimits, such as $1,500.
If that’s not enough, you can typically buy extra coverage for individual items or collections. You may need to have a professional appraisal of each item.
If you have expensive belongings, such as an antique diamond ring or a high-end guitar, check whether your homeowners policy offers enough coverage for them. Many valuable items are insured for theft only up to certain sublimits, such as $1,500.
If that’s not enough, you can typically buy extra coverage for individual items or collections. You may need to have a professional appraisal of each item.
You own an older home
Say the wiring in your century-old Victorian isn’t up to modern safety standards, or the house has unique architectural features that would be expensive to rebuild. These and other factors could make it tough to find affordable insurance for an older home. You might even need to make upgrades before you’re approved for coverage.
An experienced agent can help you weigh your options. For instance, you may want to add ordinance or law coverage to your policy to pay expenses associated with bringing your house up to current building codes during repairs.
Say the wiring in your century-old Victorian isn’t up to modern safety standards, or the house has unique architectural features that would be expensive to rebuild. These and other factors could make it tough to find affordable insurance for an older home. You might even need to make upgrades before you’re approved for coverage.
An experienced agent can help you weigh your options. For instance, you may want to add ordinance or law coverage to your policy to pay expenses associated with bringing your house up to current building codes during repairs.
How to compare homeowners insurance
1. Decide how much coverage you need. Finding the best homeowners insurance company for you starts with making sure you’re shopping for the right coverage. A standard policy covers your house and other structures, but the amount of coverage you need depends on how much it would cost to rebuild your home.
You’ll also have several options to consider, including the amount of your homeowners insurance deductible (the amount you pay out of pocket in the event of a claim) and whether you need extra insurance for valuable items. You might also want policy upgrades to cover earthquake damage or to ensure you can replace old belongings with new ones after a loss, rather than being paid for their depreciated value. Check out How Much Home Insurance Do You Need? to learn more.
By figuring out what you need before you compare home insurance companies, you can be sure each policy you’re considering provides the same level of coverage. You can also eliminate companies that don’t offer the options you want.
2. Compare home insurance quotes. After you outline your coverage needs, you can start shopping for homeowners insurance. You’ll want to compare home insurance quotes from at least three companies to be sure you’re getting the cheapest policy you can.
Homeowners insurance costs an average of about $149 a month, according to a NerdWallet analysis. But rates can vary dramatically because no two houses are the same and each insurer uses its own formula to calculate premiums and discounts.
You can shop for quotes online or by phone, or you can work with an insurance agent or broker to find the cheapest home insurance for you. Whichever route you choose, make sure to compare policies with similar coverage and deductibles.
Also, be aware that a homeowners insurance quote is only an estimate. Your price may change if an insurance company inspects your house and determines you need a different amount of coverage.
3. Research home insurance discounts. Most companies offer savings for things like:
Having multiple policies with the same insurer.
Installing safety, security or smart-home devices.
Avoiding claims for consecutive years.
Beyond those, you may see differences in both the number and type of discounts available. Matching the discounts your home is eligible to receive will ensure that you get the policy you want and that you benefit from investments you've made in your home.
4. Check customer satisfaction and complaints. If you choose a home insurance company that’s known for making its customers happy, you can feel more confident that you'll have a good experience.
To see whether previous customers have been satisfied, you can look at studies on homeowners insurance and property claims satisfaction from J.D. Power, which surveys thousands of homeowners annually.
The NAIC website is another source of information about how insurance companies have performed. You can find out how many complaints were filed against an insurer with state regulators, the reasons for the complaints, and whether there were more complaints than expected for a company of its size.
5. Consider financial strength. You’ll want to buy homeowners insurance from a stable company with enough money to pay claims. Financial strength is one way to evaluate whether an insurer meets that standard. You can check financial strength through a rating firm such as AM Best.
NerdWallet typically recommends considering insurers with ratings of A- or higher. Any company with an AM Best rating of B+ or higher has a “good” ability to meet its obligations in AM Best’s opinion. Companies with ratings below that may not be quite as safe a bet and often have higher rates of complaints relative to their siz
How we ranked the best homeowners insurance companies
1. Decide how much coverage you need. Finding the best homeowners insurance company for you starts with making sure you’re shopping for the right coverage. A standard policy covers your house and other structures, but the amount of coverage you need depends on how much it would cost to rebuild your home.
You’ll also have several options to consider, including the amount of your homeowners insurance deductible (the amount you pay out of pocket in the event of a claim) and whether you need extra insurance for valuable items. You might also want policy upgrades to cover earthquake damage or to ensure you can replace old belongings with new ones after a loss, rather than being paid for their depreciated value. Check out How Much Home Insurance Do You Need? to learn more.
By figuring out what you need before you compare home insurance companies, you can be sure each policy you’re considering provides the same level of coverage. You can also eliminate companies that don’t offer the options you want.
2. Compare home insurance quotes. After you outline your coverage needs, you can start shopping for homeowners insurance. You’ll want to compare home insurance quotes from at least three companies to be sure you’re getting the cheapest policy you can.
Homeowners insurance costs an average of about $149 a month, according to a NerdWallet analysis. But rates can vary dramatically because no two houses are the same and each insurer uses its own formula to calculate premiums and discounts.
You can shop for quotes online or by phone, or you can work with an insurance agent or broker to find the cheapest home insurance for you. Whichever route you choose, make sure to compare policies with similar coverage and deductibles.
Also, be aware that a homeowners insurance quote is only an estimate. Your price may change if an insurance company inspects your house and determines you need a different amount of coverage.
3. Research home insurance discounts. Most companies offer savings for things like:
Having multiple policies with the same insurer.
Installing safety, security or smart-home devices.
Avoiding claims for consecutive years.
Beyond those, you may see differences in both the number and type of discounts available. Matching the discounts your home is eligible to receive will ensure that you get the policy you want and that you benefit from investments you've made in your home.
4. Check customer satisfaction and complaints. If you choose a home insurance company that’s known for making its customers happy, you can feel more confident that you'll have a good experience.
To see whether previous customers have been satisfied, you can look at studies on homeowners insurance and property claims satisfaction from J.D. Power, which surveys thousands of homeowners annually.
The NAIC website is another source of information about how insurance companies have performed. You can find out how many complaints were filed against an insurer with state regulators, the reasons for the complaints, and whether there were more complaints than expected for a company of its size.
5. Consider financial strength. You’ll want to buy homeowners insurance from a stable company with enough money to pay claims. Financial strength is one way to evaluate whether an insurer meets that standard. You can check financial strength through a rating firm such as AM Best.
NerdWallet typically recommends considering insurers with ratings of A- or higher. Any company with an AM Best rating of B+ or higher has a “good” ability to meet its obligations in AM Best’s opinion. Companies with ratings below that may not be quite as safe a bet and often have higher rates of complaints relative to their siz
NerdWallet’s editorial team considered coverage options, discounts, complaint data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, financial strength grades from AM Best and more to determine the best homeowners insurance companies.
Our rating system rewards companies with many coverage options and discounts, a low number of consumer complaints and a strong financial rating. Within the consumer experience category, we looked at features such as online quotes and claim reporting. To calculate each insurer’s rating, we adjusted the scores to a curved 5-point scale.
These ratings are a guide, but we encourage you to shop around and compare several insurance quotes to find the best rate for you.
METHODOLOGY
Homeowners insurance star ratings methodology
NerdWallet’s homeowners insurance ratings reward companies for customer-first features and practices. Ratings are based on weighted averages of scores in several categories, including financial strength, consumer complaints, coverage, discounts and online experience. These ratings are a guide, but we encourage you to shop around and compare several insurance quotes to find the best rate for you. NerdWallet does not receive compensation for any reviews. Read our full ratings methodology for home insurance.
Insurer complaints methodology
NerdWallet examined complaints received by state insurance regulators and reported to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners in 2020-2022. To assess how insurers compare to one another, the NAIC calculates a complaint index each year for each subsidiary, measuring its share of total complaints relative to its size, or share of total premiums in the industry. To evaluate a company’s complaint history, NerdWallet calculated a similar index for each insurer, weighted by market shares of each subsidiary, over the three-year period. NerdWallet conducts its data analysis and reaches conclusions independently and without the endorsement of the NAIC. Ratios are determined separately for auto, home (including renters and condo) and life insurance.
Homeowners insurance rates methodology
NerdWallet averaged rates for 40-year-old homeowners from various insurance companies in every ZIP code across the U.S. All rates are rounded to the nearest $5.
Sample homeowners were nonsmokers with good credit living in a single-family, two-story home built in 1984. They had a $1,000 deductible and the following coverage limits:
$300,000 in dwelling coverage.
$30,000 in other structures coverage.
$150,000 in personal property coverage.
$60,000 in loss of use coverage.
$300,000 in liability coverage.
$1,000 in medical payments coverage.
We made minor changes to the sample policy in cases where rates for the above coverage limits or deductibles weren’t available.
These are sample rates generated through Quadrant Information Services. Your own rates will be different.