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Contents insurance

Compare contents cover from £67*

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*Confused.com data January 2024.

**Single annual policy. Shell Go+ account required. Only one £10 fuel reward can be used per transaction and each can only be used on fuel purchases of £10 or over. HelloFresh 18+ subscription service. Geographical exclusions apply. One regular hot drink per month for a year, only available via the Confused.com app. T&Cs apply
1Correct as of February, 2024

What is contents insurance?

Contents insurance covers the belongings inside your home. It covers your things against theft, loss and damage from fire, flood and storms.

There are 2 types of contents insurance:

  • New-for-old: This type of cover replaces your damaged items with a brand new replacement, without considering depreciation.
  • Indemnity/as-new: Indemnity policies only pay out what the items are worth at the time you claim, taking into account any wear and tear that reduces their value. These policies are usually less expensive.

Although most insurers now offer new for old cover, it's worth checking your policy details to make sure you get the cover you want. You can buy contents insurance separately or with buildings insurance to form a combined home insurance policy.

How much contents insurance do I need?

To estimate how much your contents are worth, you need to include everything in your house that isn’t part of its structure.

Think about if you suddenly had to move house. Everything that you would take with you should be included in your contents insurance policy.

Don’t forget anything in the loft, basement, garage and shed, and remember high-value items over £1,000 need to be listed separately.

To give you a rough guide, the average contents amount is £50,000*

For a more detailed walkthrough, try our contents calculator

*Based on Confused.com data, November 2023 - January 2024.

How much does contents insurance cost?

Average cost by amount of cover*.

£40,000 - £49,999:

£166

£50,000 - £59,999

£210

£60,000 - £69,999

£216

*Confused.com data, November 2023 - January 2024.

The average annual cost of contents insurance is £67*. But remember that this is just an average, and the amount you pay is based on a range of factors, including:

  • The amount of cover you need
  • Where you live
  • Any security devices your home has
  • The amount of excess you agree to pay
  • Whether you pay annually or monthly

*Based on Confused.com data, November 2023 - January 2024.

We compare up to 64 trusted insurance companies1 to get you our cheapest deal in minutes

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What does contents insurance cover?

Contents insurance is designed to cover everything you might take with you if you moved house, including:

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What’s covered

  • Electrical goods like smartphones, TVs, laptops and gaming consoles
  • Furniture such as dining tables, beds, sofas and wardrobes
  • Money, the amount covered will be stated in your policy details
  • Clothes and shoes 
  • Kitchen appliances
  • Soft furnishings, cushions, linen, and curtains
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Items to list individually

  • Valuable collections, for example coins, stamps or medals
  • Antiques and art
  • Gadgets and electronic equipment
  • Musical instruments
  • Designer clothing or handbags
  • Items in your garden or shed, such as a barbeque

Expensive items that cost more than £1,000 are generally not covered as standard by contents insurance. These are usually classed as high-risk items, as they’re higher value and often easy to steal.

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What’s not covered by contents insurance? 

Contents insurance doesn't cover the building itself. The structure of your home and any permanent fixtures are covered with a buildings insurance policy.

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What’s not covered

  • General wear and tear
  • Routine maintenance
  • Damage caused by negligence
  • Storm damages to fences
  • Pest infestations

You should also tell your insurer if a lodger starts living with you, so you don’t risk invalidating your policy. This list isn’t exhaustive, so check your policy details for all home insurance exclusions.

What do I need to get a quote?

You need the following details to get a quote for contents insurance:

  • Your property's build date - you can find the date on your mortgage valuation or HomeBuyer Report. If you're still unsure you can enter an approximate year.
  • The year you bought your house. If you're renting, use the date you moved in.
  • Lock types on your external doors. See our guide to lock types if you’re unsure.
  • Details and costs of any claims from the last 5 years. This information should be in your renewal documents or your insurer can tell you.
  • The total value of your possessions. The average amount of contents is £50,000*.
  • Details of any bicycles, laptops and other high-value items worth over £1,000. This could be engagement rings, antiques, musical instruments or expensive computer equipment.

2Based on Confused.com data, November 2023 - January 2024.

How do I get cheaper contents insurance?

If you're looking for ways to lower your contents insurance quote, you can:

  • Consider paying a voluntary excess. A £250 voluntary excess could reduce your price by approximately 23%*, compared to a policy with no voluntary excess. But keep in mind that you pay this amount, plus the compulsory excess set by your insurer towards any home insurance claim that you make.
  • Only get the cover you need. Add-ons come at an extra cost so think carefully before selecting any optional extras.
  • Consider paying annually. A monthly direct debit can be up to 18%* more expensive because of interest charges. Paying for the policy in one go should help lower your costs.

With the cost of living rising, keeping costs as low as you can without compromising on cover is important. For more ways to save, read our guide on how to reduce the cost of your home insurance.

*Confused.com data, November 2023 - January 2024.

What our home insurance expert says

"Contents insurance isn’t required by law, so it might be tempting to skip it to save money while the cost of living is so high. But since the average home contains £50,000 of contents, could you afford to replace everything if you suffered a loss from a theft or fire? Consider this and estimate the value of your personal belongings as accurately as possible to make sure you get the cover you need."
Matthew Harwood, Home & lifestyle insurance expert at Confused.com
Home & lifestyle insurance expert Confused.com logo

What optional extras are available?

You can add certain optional extras to your policy for an additional fee to increase your cover:

  • Home emergency cover covers unexpected incidents, such as burst pipes or your boiler breaking down. To fully protect your boiler, you may need a standalone boiler insurance policy.
  • Legal expenses cover or family protection cover covers costs and expenses in the event of certain legal disputes. Some policies include this as standard but it's best to check. Think about whether you need the additional cover before you buy it.
  • Personal possessions cover protects your possessions against loss and theft while you're away from home. This can include things you carry with you every day, such as jewellery, watches, handbags, laptops and mobile phones.
  • Accidental damage insurance covers damage caused by accidents, such as spilling something on your sofa, smashing a television or dropping an antique vase.

When you get a quote we'll show you details of the policies available to you, including whether these extras are included or if they cost extra.

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Why use Confused.com?

  • We’re 100% independent and not owned by an insurance company. We’ll always show you our best prices that are available at the time, no matter who they’re from.
  • We don’t offer freebies or gimmicks you’ll never use, instead Confused.com Rewards lets you choose one of four rewards each time you buy a home insurance policy. The choice really is yours.
  • We're FCA regulated, just like the 64 home insurance companies we work with. This means that we have to follow strict guidelines in order to operate. So when you use our site, you know you’re in safe hands.
  • Our experts and consumer champions are dedicated to helping our customers find the best deal for their needs and budget.

Year round hot drinks plus your choice of reward every time you buy home insurance**

How to claim

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**Single annual policy. Shell Go+ account required. Only one £10 fuel reward can be used per transaction and each can only be used on fuel purchases of £10 or over. HelloFresh 18+ subscription service. Geographical exclusions apply. One regular hot drink per month for a year, only available via the Confused.com app. T&Cs apply

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Page last reviewed: 08 February 2024

Reviewed by: Matthew Harwood

After buying home insurance, 96% of Confused.com customers would recommend us (based on 37944 Reviews.co.uk respondents - as of 24/08/23). Read our reviews