Top-Rated By Experts For January 2024

The best home insurance company is Westfield, according to our analysis. Erie also earns 5 stars in our homeowners insurance review.

We evaluated rates, coverage options and consumer complaints to determine the best home insurance companies in the nation. Check our analysis and ratings to compare the top home insurance companies when shopping for the best home insurance for your needs.

The best home insurance companies of 2024

Best home insurance rates

Top-rated home insurance companies of 2024

Compare the best home insurance companies of 2024

To find the best home insurance company for you, it’s important to compare home insurance quotes from multiple companies. This can help you to make sure you’re getting the best deal for your coverage needs. 

Here is how the best home insurance companies compare to one another in terms of monthly cost for a homeowners insurance policy with $350,000 in dwelling coverage.

^{Based on the average annual cost of home insurance policies with dwelling coverage of $200,000, $350,000, $500,000 and $750,000. Source: Quadrant Information Services}

Best insurance companies for home and auto bundles

Bundling your home and auto insurance — or buying both policies with one insurance company — can lead to some of the highest discounts offered by insurance companies. 

“If you buy two types of insurance from the same insurer, such as auto and home (or auto and renters insurance, or auto and condo insurance), you can generate significant savings on each policy. The amount you can save depends on your insurer, but discounts typically run about 10% to 20% of the annual premium,” said Mark Friedlander, spokesperson for the Insurance Information Institute. 

Here are the best home and auto insurance bundles, according to our expert analysis. 

Cheapest homeowners insurance companies

Overall, the cheapest homeowners insurance is offered by Progressive.

If finding the lowest-cost policy is a priority for you, it’s important to remember that not all insurers operate in every state and the cost of your home insurance depends on a variety of factors, including your home’s location, age and roof type, as well as your credit score and claims history. Here’s how some of the cheapest home insurance companies compare. 

^{Source: Quadrant Information Services. Based on the average cost of home insurance policies with dwelling coverage of $200,000, $350,000, $500,000 and $750,000.}

Find the average cost of homeowner insurance in your state

Home insurance rates vary by state and even by ZIP code. The cost of home insurance is increasing around the country, according to data from S&P Global Market Intelligence, and states like Texas and Oklahoma are seeing significant rate increases. 

The key drivers in home insurance cost increases are a surge in expensive weather disasters and an increase in labor and construction costs, according to the Insurance Information Institute.   

Cheapest home insurance companies by state 

Here are the cheapest home insurance companies in each state for a home insurance policy with $350,000 in dwelling coverage.

^{Source: Quadrant Information Services, based on dwelling coverage of $350,000. Not all 50 states are shown due to data availability.}

^{In some cases, Armed Forces Insurance (AFI) or USAA had the cheapest rate but both are open only to those who qualify with a military affiliation.}

How to choose the best homeowners insurance policy

When looking for the best home insurance, you’ll need to consider several factors. 

• Your house’s rebuild value. You’ll need enough dwelling coverage to fully rebuild your house back to its prior state after a covered disaster, like a house fire.
• The value of your personal property. Take inventory of your personal belongings to make sure you have enough personal property coverage to repair or replace all your stuff. 
• The value of your financial assets. You’ll want enough liability coverage to financially protect your assets in the event of an expensive lawsuit. 
• Disasters and damage your house is at risk for. If you live in an area that’s at risk for earthquake damage, for instance, you may want a company that offers earthquake coverage.
• Cost and deductible offerings. It’s important to compare insurance companies to make sure you’re getting the best price possible for your needs. Also consider deductible options that the insurer offers, the higher your deductible is the lower your rates will be, but the less you’ll be paid out in the event of a claim. 
• Discounts available. Many insurers offer discounts, but some offer more than others. Consider discounts that the company offers that you’re eligible for. 
• The company’s reviews. Company reviews are important to understand how it handles claims and its financial standings. We include company complaints in our analysis. 
• Type of homeowners policy. There are many different types of home insurance. Which one you’ll need depends on your house. For example, if you own a condo, you’ll need an HO-6 policy.

How to buy the best home insurance

Finding the best home insurance company and policy for you is a multi-step process and it’s important to consider all of your options before settling on a policy. After all, your home and everything in it have value, so you don’t want to shortchange your needs. 

Here are a few tips for finding the best home insurance. 

• Determine your home insurance coverage needs. The first thing to consider is how much home insurance coverage you’ll need for your dwelling, belongings, liability and loss of use. You want to make sure you have enough coverage to rebuild your home and replace the items in it if necessary, while giving yourself sufficient protection for liability. Loss of use coverage should also be enough to cover your living expenses if you’re displaced. 
• Consider homeowners insurance add-ons. Depending on where you live, it may be necessary to add coverage for floods or earthquakes to your home insurance policy. You may also want to bump up coverage for jewelry or liability, or add on special coverage for water back ups and sump pump damage. When considering what to add, remember to weigh any added premium costs. 
• Shop for home insurance quotes. Getting multiple rate quotes is a no-brainer when shopping for the best home insurance. It’s an opportunity to see what you might pay with one company versus another. You may be able to get quotes over the phone, via email or online. 
• Check for homeowners insurance discounts. Discounts can lead to big savings on home insurance. When shopping for quotes, remember to ask about available discounts for things like bundling, smart homes, home security systems or having a newer home. You might also be able to snag discounts if you belong to certain membership or professional associations.

Home insurance rates vary by state and even by ZIP code. The cost of home insurance is increasing around the country, according to data from S&P Global Market Intelligence, and states like Texas and Oklahoma are seeing significant rate increases. 

The key drivers in home insurance cost increases are a surge in expensive weather disasters and an increase in labor and construction costs, according to the Insurance Information Institute.   

To find the lowest rate for your needs, it’s a good idea to compare home insurance quotes. Here are the cheapest home insurance companies by state. 

How much is homeowners insurance?

The average cost of home insurance in the U.S. is $1,678 per year for a policy with $350,000 in dwelling coverage, according to our analysis of rates. How much you pay for home insurance depends heavily on how much dwelling coverage you need.

Dwelling insurance covers your house and its attached structures, such as a garage and deck. You’ll want enough dwelling insurance to pay to rebuild your house and its attached structures from the ground up. 

Here is how much you’ll pay on average for different dwelling coverage amounts. 

How to save on homeowners insurance

You may be able to lower your home insurance rates if you: 

• Change home insurance companies. Get and compare home insurance quotes from different companies to see how much you might save by switching.
• Mitigate your house’s risk. Storm-proof windows and doors and add safety features like a burglar alarm — these actions may qualify you for a discount.  
• Raise your deductible. This will lower your premiums, but keep in mind that a higher deductible means a smaller payout when you file a claim.

Home insurance discounts

Home insurance companies can offer multiple discounts to homeowners to reduce costs. These may include:

• Bundling discounts.
• New customer discounts (if switching companies).
• First-time buyer discounts.
• Safety feature discounts.
• HOA discounts.
• Green home or smart home discounts.
• Military discounts.
• Auto pay discounts.
• Senior discounts or discounts for retirees.
• Paperless statement discounts.
• Roof replacement discounts.

For example, if you recently purchased a house, or your house is new, on average you may receive 7% to 24% off your premiums, according to our analysis. A qualified insurance agent should be able to tell you which discounts you might qualify for and how much you could save on coverage.

How to compare the best homeowners insurance

There are a number of things to consider when comparing homeowners insurance, as every home insurance company and policy are different. It’s a good idea to compare at least three different home insurance companies to make sure you’re getting the best deal for your needs.

When evaluating different options for home insurance, it’s important to consider your: 

• Rebuild costs. Dwelling coverage should be equal to the cost to rebuild your house back to its original state before a covered disaster destroys it. If you’re unsure of the cost to rebuild your insurance company can estimate it for you.
• Liability needs. It’s important to have sufficient liability coverage in the event that you’re sued. For instance, you may want coverage equal to the value of assets that could be awarded in a judgment.
• Personal belongings. Personal belongings should be covered in your policy, but you may want to purchase add-on coverage for any big-ticket items you own. You may also want to upgrade to replacement cost coverage so you’re paid out at today’s prices for your stuff.
• Coverage upgrades. Consider any additional home insurance coverage you may need. Do you live in a flood zone? You’ll likely need flood insurance. Do you have a sump pump? You may want to consider water backup coverage.
• Your budget. Once you’ve determined your homeowners insurance needs, it’s important to consider what you can reasonably pay for insurance costs. An ideal homeowners insurance policy offers the scope of coverage you need at a price point you can comfortably afford.  

What does home insurance cover?

A standard home insurance policy includes six types of coverage, each of which is designed to protect a different facet of your property. Here’s a quick look at what’s covered.

Dwelling coverage

Dwelling coverage applies to the actual structure of your house. Specifically, it pays to repair or rebuild the house if it’s damaged by a covered circumstance in your homeowners insurance policy.  

The most common type of homeowners insurance protects the structure of your house and detached structures from “all risks,” meaning all causes of damage unless specifically excluded from your policy.

Common exclusions in a home insurance policy include flood damage, earthquake damage, pest infestations and water and drainage backups. Depending on the home insurance company, you may be able to add extra coverage to your homeowners policy to supplement coverage for these exclusions.

Other structures coverage

Other structures coverage pays to repair or rebuild detached structures on your property. 

Examples of other structures include:

• Detached garages.
• Fences.
• Gazebos.
• Guest houses or pool houses.
• Sheds.

Damages must be related to a covered event for the other structures portion of your homeowners insurance policy to pay out a claim. 

Personal property coverage

Personal property coverage pays to repair or replace your belongings if they’re damaged by covered events. 

Examples of covered personal property include:

• Books. 
• Clothing.
• Electronics.
• Furniture.
• Home decor.

Your personal property coverage pays to repair or replace your belongings if they’re damaged by one of the 16 causes, or named perils, listed in your home insurance policy. Types of damage covered by a standard homeowners insurance policy include:

• Fire and lightning.
• Windstorm and hail.
• Explosions.
• Riot or civil commotion.
• Damage caused by aircraft (not your own).
• Damage caused by vehicles (not your own).
• Smoke.
• Vandalism or malicious mischief.
• Theft and home break-in. 
• Falling objects.
• Weight of snow, sleet or ice. 
• Accidental discharge or overflow of water or steam.
• Sudden and accidental tearing apart, cracking or burning.
• Freezing.
• Sudden and accidental damage from artificially generated electrical current.
• Volcanic eruption. 

Some types of personal property may have special coverage limits. For example, jewelry coverage may be capped at $1,500 for theft. If you keep high-value jewelry in your home, you may want to consider adding a floater or a stand-alone jewelry insurance policy to make sure those items have adequate financial protection.

Loss of use coverage

Loss of use coverage can reimburse you for additional living expenses you accrue (above your normal spending) if you’re temporarily unable to live in your home because it’s been damaged or destroyed by a covered problem.

For example, this part of your policy can pay for:

• Hotel or temporary rental.
• Laundry service.
• Meals. 
• Pet boarding. 

Keep all receipts for any extra expenses to help accelerate the claims process, so you can be reimbursed faster.

Personal liability insurance

Liability insurance covers property damage or injuries to others that you are responsible for. 

Your liability coverage pays others in these kinds of scenarios:

• A friend comes to visit and falls down the front steps because of a loose hand railing, resulting in an ankle injury that requires medical treatment.  
• Your child throws a ball, breaking a neighbor’s window and damaging their personal property. 

It can also pay for your legal defense if, for example, your dog bites a stranger at the park and they sue you for damages related to the injury. 

Medical payments coverage

Medical payments coverage pays for more minor medical expenses if a guest is injured on your property, regardless of who was at fault. Most standard home insurance policies have small amounts of medical payments coverage, from $1,000 to $5,000.

Additional home insurance coverage considerations

Many of the best home insurance companies offer optional additional coverages that you can add to your policy to cover excluded causes of damage or upgrade your current coverage. Some common ones are listed below.

• Water backup or sewer backup coverage: Pays to repair water damage caused by sump pump, drainage, or sewer backups. 
• Extended replacement cost coverage: Extends your dwelling coverage limit an additional 25% in the event that your standard dwelling coverage isn’t enough to fully rebuild your home after a disaster. 
• Guaranteed replacement cost coverage: Pays to rebuild your home past your dwelling coverage limit no matter the cost. This comes in handy if a natural disaster spikes the cost of labor and materials needed to rebuild houses. 
• Equipment breakdown coverage: Pays to repair your appliances, like a furnace, HVAC system, washer machine, if they break due to electrical or mechanical failure. 
• Identity theft coverage: Pays restoration costs that come with restoring your identity, like replacement of government IDs, credit score restoration, and fraud specialist fees. However, this coverage does not reimburse you for stolen money or goods. 

What are the types of homeowners insurance?

There are several types of homeowners insurance policies that are designed around specific types of houses and living situations. These include:

• HO-3 policy. The most common form of home insurance, an HO-3 insures your house against all types of damage unless specifically excluded. It also insures your belongings against 16 specific types of damage in your policy. This type of home insurance policy includes coverage for dwelling, other structures, personal property, loss of use, liability and medical payments to others. 
• HO-4 policy. Also called renters insurance, this type of policy is designed for tenants who rent their house or apartment. It includes personal property, loss of use, liability and medical expenses to others coverage. It does not include dwelling coverage since the renter does not own the structure of the home.
• HO-5 policy. Also called comprehensive coverage, this is the most robust form of home insurance coverage. It includes the same coverages as a standard HO-3 policy, but insures your house and belongings against all types of damage unless listed as an exclusion. 
• HO-6 policy. Known as condo insurance, this type of home insurance is designed for condo or co-op owners. It includes the same type of coverage as an HO-3 policy, but how much dwelling coverage you’ll need will depend on your HOA’s master policy. Condo owners contribute to the HOA’s master policy which pays for repairs to the structure of the condo and common areas. How comprehensive the master policy is will depend on your HOA.
• HO-7 policy. Also called mobile and manufactured home insurance, HO-7 home insurance policies pay for damages to your mobile house and belongings from named problems in your policy. It also includes loss of use coverage, liability insurance and medical payments to others coverage. Depending on the insurance company, you may be able to upgrade or enhance your HO-7 policy. 
• HO-8 policy. This type of home insurance is designed for houses that are older or historic. Historic houses typically don’t qualify for HO-3 policies because they’re often made with outdated or vintage materials that aren’t easily replaced. This usually means historic houses have higher rebuild values than newer ones. HO-8 policies contain the same type of coverage as HO-3 policies, but you’re only covered for damage caused by 10 specific issues. 

Which home insurance policy do you need? The 8 types of homeowners insurance. 

How to file a home insurance claim

Here are some steps to take when filing a home insurance claim. 

1. Contact your home insurance company immediately. You can do this over the phone or online depending on the insurance company.
2. Document the damage with photographs or video footage. You should also take note of any damage to personal belongings and consult your home inventory if you have one. The more proof of damage you have the faster your claims process will likely be.
3. Make temporary repairs to prevent further damage. If you need to buy materials to make the temporary repairs, save the receipt for reimbursement from your insurer. 
4. File a claim with your home insurance company and prepare for the claims adjuster to arrive. If you’re filing a property damage claim, your insurer company will typically send out a claims adjuster to survey and confirm the damage.
5. Begin the claims payout process once your claim is approved. Depending on the home insurance company, your insurer may send you a check or multiple checks for repairs, may help you find a contractor to fix the damage and set you up with a place to temporarily live if your home is uninhabitable

Home insurance outlook for 2024

Thanks to supply chain issues, inflation and expensive natural disasters in previous years, several states approved home insurance rate increases for insurers.  

This means a couple of things in 2024:

• Homeowners in some states may receive shocking rate increases or nonrenewals. 
• Insurers that increase rates are more likely to continue to be able to afford to pay out for approved claims and stay in business. 

If you’re shopping for home insurance in 2024, it’s important to compare home insurance quotes from several different insurance companies to make sure you’re getting the best coverage at the most affordable price for your needs.

Editor’s Note: This article contains updated information from previously published stories: