The Average Renters Insurance Cost

The average renters insurance cost in the U.S. is $148 per year, or about $12 per month, according to NerdWallet’s latest rate analysis. We based this estimate on a policy for a hypothetical 30-year-old tenant with $30,000 in personal property coverage, $100,000 in liability coverage and a $500 deductible.

While the nationwide average is a useful baseline, renters insurance rates vary based on where you live and how much coverage you need.

Your home’s location is a major factor in the cost of your renters insurance. Check how much you can expect to pay for a policy in your state below.

These are the five most expensive states for renters insurance:

• Louisiana: $253 per year, or $21 per month, on average.

• Mississippi: $252 per year, or $21 per month, on average.

• Arkansas: $225 per year, or $19 per month, on average.

• Oklahoma: $210 per year, or $18 per month, on average.

• Georgia: $194 per year, or $16 per month, on average.

Meanwhile, these are the five cheapest states for renters insurance:

• Wyoming: $91 per year, or $8 per month, on average.

• Alaska: $101 per year, or $8 per month, on average.

• Wisconsin: $107 per year, or $9 per month, on average.

• Iowa: $110 per year, or $9 per month, on average.

• Vermont: $110 per year, or $9 per month, on average.

» MORE: How does renters insurance work?

You can find the average cost of renters insurance in 25 of the country’s largest cities below. Los Angeles is the most expensive at $250 per year on average (about $21 per month), while Seattle is the most affordable at $137, or about $11 per month, on average.

» MORE: The best renters insurance companies

Most renters insurance policies include four basic types of coverage:

Personal property. If someone steals your belongings or a fire destroys them, this part of your policy would pay to replace them, minus your deductible. (A deductible is the part of a claim you have to pay.) Renters insurance typically covers only specific events named in the policy.

Liability. This part of your policy covers you if you’re found responsible for someone else’s injuries or property damage. This could include incidents like a guest getting hurt in your home or your dog biting a stranger. (Note that some insurers won’t cover certain dog breeds. For example, see what pit bull owners need to know about insurance.)

Medical payments. Often grouped with liability, this coverage will pay for a guest’s injuries on your property without requiring anyone to be found at fault.

Loss of use. This coverage pays if you need to relocate while your home is being repaired after a disaster listed in your policy. For example, it would cover hotel or restaurant bills beyond your normal expenses while you’re waiting to move back home.

Learn more about renters insurance coverage.

Every insurance company calculates renters insurance rates a bit differently, but these are the most common factors that could influence how much you pay.

Where you live

If your home is in a region prone to natural disasters like wildfires or tornadoes, you’ll probably pay more for renters insurance. You may also pay more if your neighborhood has a high crime rate or your home doesn’t have a fire station or hydrant nearby.

» MORE: Wildfire insurance: What you should know

Your previous claims

If you’ve filed claims in the past three to five years, even with a different company, your current insurer will likely see you as a greater risk. For example, a theft claim on your record can raise your premium about 19%, a NerdWallet analysis found.

Your credit history

Renters insurance companies don’t check your FICO credit score, but in most states they do look at your credit-based insurance score, a similar measure. Studies have shown that those with poor credit are more likely to file claims, so insurers tend to charge them more.

On average, renters with poor credit pay about 65% more than those with good credit, a NerdWallet analysis found.

» MORE: How poor credit could raise your renters insurance rates

Your dog

Because renters insurance typically includes liability coverage for dog bites, owning larger dogs or breeds considered more aggressive may cost you more. Some insurers may not cover certain breeds at all.

» MORE: Why your dog needs liability insurance even if she’s perfect

Your coverage limits

The more coverage you need, the more your policy will cost. For example, a family renting a three-bedroom house will almost always pay more to insure their stuff than a single person in a studio apartment across town. Below, see a sample of how your renters premium could change based on how much personal property coverage you need.

Raising your liability limit can also affect your premium, though it costs less than increasing your personal property limit. For example, it costs only $1 more a month on average to add an extra $200,000 of liability coverage.

One common upgrade you may want to add to your renters policy is replacement cost coverage for your personal belongings. With this coverage, your policy will pay enough for you to buy brand-new replacements for items that are stolen or destroyed. Many standard renters policies cover your stuff on an actual cash value basis, which means your insurer will pay only what your item was worth at the time of the incident.

Imagine a fire destroys the kitchen table and chairs you bought 10 years ago. With replacement cost coverage, your insurer would pay enough for you to buy a brand-new dining set rather than reducing your payout because the furniture has lost value over the years.

Upgrading to replacement cost coverage will raise your premium by about 14%, according to NerdWallet’s rate analysis.

» MORE: Actual cash value vs. replacement cost: What's the difference?

Your deductible

You can lower your premium by choosing a higher deductible — the amount you pay toward a claim before your insurer covers the rest. The difference in premium could be relatively small, though, and might not be worth it if you’d have trouble covering the larger deductible in an emergency.

» MORE: Renters insurance quotes: What you need to know

There are a variety of ways to save on your renters insurance, but these are the most common discounts.

Multipolicy. If you buy both renters insurance and another policy (such as auto insurance) with the same company, you may get a discount on one or both policies. This is known as "bundling." See the best auto and renters insurance bundles.

Claim-free. Renters with no recent claims are often eligible for discounts. “Recent” claims are typically within the past three to five years, depending on the company.

Safety and security devices. Many insurers will lower your rate if your home has burglar alarms, smoke detectors, sprinkler systems or other devices designed to reduce the risk of fire or theft.

Depending on your insurer, you could also save money by choosing paperless billing or autopay, or paying your policy in full rather than in monthly installments. Nonsmokers may also pay less.

Your best bet is to shop around. We recommend getting quotes from at least three different companies to make sure you’re getting the best possible deal.

» MORE: The best cheap renters insurance