Contents insurance calculator

Calculate the value of your contents before comparing home insurance quotes by using our contents calculator.

Kim Jones
Kim Jones
Updated 27 February 2023 
Reviewed by Jasmine Hembury

To make sure all your possessions are protected with the right level of cover, you should estimate the value of your belongings.

Try our handy tool to find out how much cover you’ll need.

Sofas & Furniture
TV & Electricals
Books, DVDs & CDs
Carpets & Rugs
Curtains & Blinds
Cushions & Throws
Art, Vases & Ornaments
Lamps & Lights
Other
Oven / Cooker
Fridge Freezer
Washing Machine / Dryer
Dishwasher
Electrical Appliances
Pots & Pans
Crockery, Cutlery & Glass
Food & Drink
Other
Dining Table & Chairs
Cabinets & Bookcases
Electrical Appliances
Carpets, Curtains & Blinds
Cushions & Throws
Art, Vases & Ornaments
Lamps & Lights
Crockery, Cutlery & Glass
Food & Drink
Other
Beds
Furniture
TV & Electricals
Clothes & Jewellery
Books, DVDs & CDs
Toys & Games
Carpets, Curtains & Blinds
Bedding & Cushions
Art, Vases & Ornaments
Lamps & Lights
Other
Toiletries
Mirrors & Ornaments
Towels & Mats
Electrical Appliances
Curtains & Blinds
Cabinets & Baskets
Lamps & Lights
Other
Furniture
Carpets & Rugs
Curtains & Blinds
Cushions & Throws
Art, Vases & Ornaments
Lamps & Lights
Other
Sofas & Furniture
TV & Electricals
Carpets & Rugs
Curtains & Blinds
Cushions & Throws
Art, Vases & Ornaments
Lamps & Lights
Other
Furniture
Bikes & Sports Equipment
Holiday Decorations
Toys & Presents
Electrical Appliances
Food & Drink
Other
Sofas & Furniture
TV & Electricals
Carpets & Rugs
Curtains & Blinds
Cushions & Throws
Art, Vases & Ornaments
Lamps & Lights
Other
Garden Furniture
Garden Equipment
DIY Equipment
Childrens Toys
Gym Equipment
Pool & Hot Tub
Bicycles
Other
Computers & Tablets
Phones & Mobiles
Musical Instruments
Sports Equipment
Collectables
Baby Equipment
Other

Your total estimate:


Note:


* Please do not rely on the Contents Insurance Calculator for an accurate value of your home’s contents.

The information provided here is solely for guidance.

The estimated value of the contents of your home is based on the information you’ve put into the contents calculator. If the value seems high or low, doublecheck you’ve entered the right amount for each room.


What items are classed as ‘contents’ for insurance purposes?

In insurance terms, contents are possessions you keep in your home that you would take with you if you moved.

This includes your living room, bedroom and dining room furniture and soft furnishings (rugs, curtains and bedding). As well as your clothes, books, gadgets and electrical equipment like your TV and any home office equipment.

Contents also includes your jewellery, ornaments and artwork, kitchen appliances like your washing machine and fridge freezer (and in some instances the food in it), plus all your pots, pans and crockery.

Many contents policies also insure items stored in your garden or outbuildings, for example your barbecue, tools and lawnmower.

The permanent fixtures and fittings in your home (bathroom suite and fitted kitchen units) are generally covered by buildings insurance rather than contents insurance.

How much contents insurance do I need?

The average value of household possessions on combined home insurance policies bought through us is £48,989.[1]

Many standard insurance policies will offer you around £40,000 cover for your contents, which for some people is enough. But if you think you’ll need more, or less, change it. Your policy price could fall or increase as a result.

How to work out the value of your contents

To work out the value of your contents, you should:

  • Walk around your property, making a list of your possessions. This includes carpets, curtains, garden furniture, plus any possessions you keep in the attic, shed, garage or outbuildings. Our contents calculator can help you do this
  • Estimate how much each possession would cost to replace as new. If you’re not sure, do some research online to find out what similar items are worth
  • For expensive items, like jewellery or gadgets, get an up-to-date valuation
  • Add up the total cost of all your possessions combined to work out the amount of cover you need

What items should I include in my calculation?

Put simply, you should include all the possessions in your home when calculating how much cover you need.

As a rule of thumb, these would be all the things that you’d take with you if you moved. (So, only exclude things like a fitted kitchen or bathroom suite).

What happens if I over or undervalue my home contents?

It’s important you calculate how much your stuff is worth, so you can opt for the right amount of cover.

This is called the sum insured and it’s the maximum amount that your insurer will pay out in the event of a claim. So, if you lost all your possessions in a fire, your sum insured should be enough to cover the cost of replacing all the items you’ve lost.

If you undervalue your home contents and your sum insured is less than it would cost to replace your possessions, then you’ll have a shortfall.

But if you overvalue your home contents you’ll pay more than you need to.

Do I need to include cash in my valuation?

Most contents insurance policies will have a set limit on how much they’ll pay out to replace damaged or stolen cash in the home. So even if you keep more money in the house, it won’t be covered. Be sure to check your policy for the limit.

Should I update my policy if I purchase new items?

Yes, it’s important to re-evaluate your sum insured regularly. Especially after occasions like birthdays and Christmas, or if you’ve bought anything expensive like new computers or televisions, art or jewellery.

If you don’t do this, you could be underinsured.

Hints and tips:

New for old vs. indemnity policies

New for old policies are designed to replace your old possessions with brand new equivalents.

So, let’s say for example that a TV you bought four years ago gets damaged beyond repair or stolen. With a new for old policy, your insurer will pay out a sum that’s enough to buy a brand-new television of similar spec.

Indemnity policies, on the other hand, only pay out a sum that’s equivalent to the item’s current value. It will consider the item’s age, any wear and tear and depreciation. So, if you bought a TV four years ago for £600, it could only be worth £200 now and you’d only receive this amount to replace it. This might mean buying a second-hand equivalent model or paying the difference to get a new model.

Itemise anything worth over the single value limit

Most contents policies have a single value limit which is the maximum they’ll pay out for any single items (usually around £1,500). So, if you have something worth more, you’d still only be able to claim £1,500 for it if it gets stolen or damaged.

To get valuable items insured for their full amounts, you’ll need to tell your provider about them so they can be listed individually on the policy and usually your premium will increase.

Get up-to-date valuations of jewellery and valuables

Insurers usually accept professional valuations and certificates for things like antiques and heirlooms when you make a claim. So it’s important to get regular, expert valuations and take photos of the items to keep with the valuation certificates. Having this type of proof to hand can help a claim go through smoothly and ensure that you get the maximum reimbursement for lost, stolen or damaged valuable items.

Include downloaded ebooks, music and films

Check if your policy offers cover for loss or damage to digital downloads. If it does, it can pay out for things like films, music and ebooks you’ve bought and stored on your home entertainment equipment or mobile phone. Cover is usually limited up to a certain amount though.

Sources

[1] The average value of household possessions on combined home insurance policies bought through GoCompare in September 2022

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