Compare contents insurance

What does contents insurance cover?

Most items within your home will be covered by your contents insurance. Although they vary slightly between insurance brands, the following are some common inclusions:

Many personal effects are also covered by home insurance, including the following:

When am I covered?

Contents insurance kicks in when your belongings are damaged in a specific way. These are called insured events. Take a look at the events below so you know when you'll be covered.

How much does contents insurance cost?

We got quotes from 14 different home insurers and found that policies can start from $23 a month.

When you get a quote from an insurer, it will probably vary from these prices because it's entirely based on the value of your stuff. But at least you get an idea, right?

Here's the rest of the research so you can see how different insurers stack up against each other on a monthly and annual basis.

	$20,000 of contents - Monthly price	$20,000 of contents - Annual price	$50,000 of contents - Monthly price	$50,000 of contents - Annual price	Get a quote
	$44.88more info button	538.63more info button	$54.11	$649.33	More info
	$44.88more info button	538.63more info button	$54.11	$649.33	More info
	$39.18	$419.75	$44.57	$477.54	More info
	$19.94	$191.08	$25.91	$250.81	More info
	$37.26	$399.16	$42.39	$454.10	More info
	$31.80more info button	$307.22more info button	$40.09	$394.33	More info
	$24.65	$281.70	$25.88	$295.78
	$25.05	$250.51	$31.07	$310.75	More info
	$59.47	$713.64	$72.59	$871.02	More info
	$34.72	$351.27	$37.99	$380.30	Get quote
	$33.31	$336.05	$35.69	$360.82	More info
	$35.04	$354.78	$38.29	$384.11	More info
	$39.19more info button	$413.23more info button	$44.68	$479.08	More info
	$38	$400	$43	$454	Get quote
	$39.51	$396.62	$42.35	$429.39	Get quote
	$33.12	$354.80	$37.68	$403.66	More info
	$32.81more info button	$354.29more info button	$35.16more info button	$379.76more info button	Get quote

We rounded all the quotes to the nearest dollar. The customer profile had no previous claims and a $500 excess.

Learn more about our methodology

How much contents insurance do I need?

That's a tough one. It really depends on how much stuff you have and how valuable it is. Here are some tips on getting an accurate estimate:

• Go from room to room, listing and valuing every item
• Take photos when you're doing this or collect receipts if possible
• Use a contents insurance calculator online
• If you still have concerns, consider using an expert

How can I get the most out of contents insurance?

Contents insurance comes with heaps of cool benefits. Some are included as standard, while others you can pick and choose. Take a look at some examples below.

Temporary accommodation

If your home is unliveable, your contents insurance will pay for emergency accommodation.

Portable contents

Sometimes called personal effects, this extra benefit covers the things you take outside of your home. It includes jewellery and bicycles, but not phones or laptops.

Food spoilage

Lots of policies will pay out if an insured event ruins the food in your home. For example, a burst pipe cuts the power and everything in your freezer is ruined.

Motor burnout

This option covers you for loss or damage to electric motors, commonly found in appliances like fridges, freezers or washing machines.

Vet's expenses

Some policies will pay a benefit if your pet suffers an injury – regardless of whether it happened inside the home or out.

Specified items

Contents insurance sets a limit for the amount you can claim per item. If you have any high-value items, be sure to specify them.

How to save on contents insurance

For the level of protection you get, contents insurance is pretty affordable. But there are still ways to cut the cost of cover and score a serious bargain.

Shop around. We compared the cost of $50,000 worth of contents insurance and found a difference of $482 between the cheapest and most expensive policy.

Look for discounts. Insurance companies often run deals to attract new customers. You can usually get up to 15% off a new contents policy. Check them out here.

Bundle cover. Some insurance brands will reduce the cost of your premium if you have more than one type of cover. Consider bundling your car insurance to save more cash.

Pay annually. You'll usually get a discount if you pay annually rather than monthly. Some insurers will also give you a discount if you buy online rather than over the phone.

Raise your excess. Choosing a higher excess will reduce the cost of your premium, but make sure the excess is affordable. There's no point pricing yourself out when it comes to claim time.

Don't be shy. Ask the insurer if there's any way you can get a better deal. They might be able to tell you about an offer that's running or give you a price cut.

What isn't covered by contents insurance?

Contents insurance helps in heaps of different situations, but it won't cover everything. Here are some common exclusions to be aware of:

Contents insurance for renters

Contents insurance covers most of your belongings kept inside the home. You don't need to insure the building since that's the landlord's responsibility.

It'll also cover some semi-permanent features – like air-con units, ovens and carpets – as long as you paid for them.

Check out our guide to renter's insurance for more information.

Contents insurance for landlords

Landlord insurance covers both the fixtures and fittings inside your property, including built-in wardrobes, shelving units, ceiling fans and kitchen countertops.

You can also add cover for malicious damage and tenant default.

Check out our guide to landlord's insurance for more information.

Compare contents insurance deals for December 2024

You could save up to 15% on the price of your policy just by taking advantage of a sign-up offer.

Deal

15% online discount on contents insurance

Save 15% on your first year's premium when you purchase cover online. T&Cs apply.

Get deal

Deal

Get 10% off your first years’ premium with QBE Contents only Insurance

Discount is for new customers who sign up online. Terms and conditions apply.

Get deal

Other questions you might have about contents insurance

• Q. Who pays for contents insurance on a rented property?

  A. That depends on who owns the contents. If you're a tenant and you want to insure your important possessions, you'll need to consider renter's insurance. However, landlords who lease out fully furnished properties can also benefit from contents insurance. In addition, landlord contents insurance can also provide cover for other contents that are the landlord's responsibility, including carpets, curtains and some electrical appliances.

• Q. Does contents insurance provide tenant's liability cover?

  A. Yes, renter's contents-only insurance policies can provide legal liability cover if you are legally liable when someone else suffers an injury or damage to their property.

• Q. Can I have a contents insurance policy with no excess?

  A. Most policies require you to pay an excess when you make a claim. However, many insurers allow you to adjust your excess to vary your premium amount, so contact your insurer to find out the minimum excess available.

• Q. Will contents insurance still provide cover if I haven't kept my receipts?

  A. Yes, it's still possible to have your claim paid even if you haven't kept receipts. The insurer will ask you to show proof of ownership, which you may be able to do by providing photographs of the items in your house, warranty cards, instruction manuals, valuation certificates, original packaging, credit card statements and, in some cases, serial numbers. Contact your insurer for details of what they will accept as proof of ownership if you are unable to provide receipts.

• Q. Do I get contents insurance if I live in a granny flat?

  A. If you live in a granny flat, and don't own it, then contents insurance could be the right way to go. You won't need cover for the building since the owner or landlord should have that part covered.

• Q. How do I buy contents insurance?

  A. You can buy contents insurance online or by contacting an insurer over the phone.

• Q. Does contents insurance cover my pet?

  A. Contents insurance cover for pets varies widely between insurers. Generally speaking, pets aren't covered as standard, but many insurers offer pet cover as an optional extra. This benefit can help cover your vet bills if your dog or cat suffers an accidental injury. However, keep in mind that most insurers will not provide any cover for damage to your contents caused by a domestic pet.

• Q. Will contents insurance cover my aquarium?

  A. Contents insurance can cover your aquarium whether you're a renter or a homeowner, though it does have the following caveats:

  • The value needs to be within a certain limit
  • You won't be covered for general wear and tear or poor maintenance
  • You won't be covered for the fish

• Q. What does new for old mean?

  A. If your insurer offers "new for old" replacement, that means your damaged item will be replaced with a new version, regardless of its age. Without this, you might end up with a minimal cash payout that wouldn't be enough to buy a replacement item.

• Q. Will contents insurance cover my engagement ring?

  A. Yes, to a certain value. Insurers put a cap on the amount you can claim per piece of jewellery. If your ring is worth more than that, don't worry. You can list the item on your insurance policy, with its value, and have peace of mind that it's properly covered.

• Q. Will contents insurance cover my stuff if I take it outside my home?

  A. Sometimes. You can usually add "personal effects" cover or "portable contents" cover to your policy. This will cover some items if you take them away from your home. Bicycles, jewellery and cameras are usually covered, but phones, laptops and drones typically aren't.

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Written by

Nicola Middlemiss

Senior writer

Nicola Middlemiss is a contributing writer at Finder, with a special interest in personal finance and insurance. Formerly a business and finance journalist, Nicola has written thousands of articles helping Australians better understand insurance and grow their personal wealth. She has contributed to a wide range of publications, including Domain, the Educator, Financy, Fundraising and Philanthropy, Insurance Business, MoneyMag, Mortgage Professional, Yahoo Finance, Your Investment Property, and Wealth Professional. Nicola has a Tier 1 General Insurance (General Advice) certification and a Bachelor's degree from the University of Leeds. See full bio

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Nicola has written 241 Finder guides across topics including:

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