We’re reader-supported and may be paid when you visit links to partner sites. We don’t compare all products in the market, but we’re working on it!
Replacing your treasured possessions could easily cost tens of thousands of dollars. With contents insurance, you'd pay just a fraction of that.
In fact, our cost research shows that you could get $20,000 worth of contents insurance for less than $25 a month – sounds like a good deal to us.
Compare contents insurance and get a quote
Get a quote via the table below and we'll send you straight to the brand's website. Not ready yet? Click "view details" for a comprehensive breakdown of benefits.
What is contents insurance?
Contents insurance is a type of home insurance. It covers the items inside your home, such as your TV, furniture or art, without providing any cover for the actual building.
You can buy contents insurance as a standalone policy or bundle it with building insurance. Standalone policies are ideal for renters and are generally pretty affordable.
Usually, contents insurance is highly customisable. You may be able to add cover for items you take outside of the home as well as for high-value items.
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:
✅ Carpets and rugs ✅ Furnishings ✅ Household electrical appliances ✅ Above-ground swimming pools ✅ Wheelchairs and mobility aids ✅ Tools and gardening equipment ✅ Paintings and works of art
Many personal effects are also covered by home insurance, including the following:
✅ Bicycles ✅ Binoculars and telescopes ✅ Clothing and accessories ✅ Jewellery and medals ✅ Musical instruments ✅ Music systems and radios ✅ Sporting equipment ✅ Writing instruments
✅ Baby capsules and prams ✅ Children's toys ✅ Cosmetics ✅ Medical aids ✅ Cameras, video equipment and accessories ✅ Glasses, sunglasses and contact lenses ✅ Watches and clocks ✅ Non-fabric camping equipment
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.
⚠️ You won't be covered for general wear and tear, including chips, scratches and dents.
How much does contents insurance cost?
We got quotes from 14 different home insurers to find 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.
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
Quotes were obtained for the same three-bedroom New South Wales home in Baulkham Hills owned by a family of two.
The homeowning family of two who moved into their property in 2019.
Quotes were obtained in January 2021 and were for contents insurance only.
The house was a three-bedroom, one story freestanding house on flat ground with brick veneer walls, terracotta tiled roof, no verandas and built in 1980.
Windows were secured by deadlocks, with no security devices.
Want to save hundreds of dollars?
For contents worth $50,000, we found a difference of $482 between the cheapest and most expensive policy. Want to start saving? Compare prices and switch policies.
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 estimation:
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
Remember: Contents insurance covers everything from simple cosmetics and toiletries to expensive furniture and artwork. Try not to overlook anything.
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 unlivable, your contents insurance will pay for emergency accommodation.
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:
❌ Actions of the sea, except tsunamis ❌ Asbestos ❌ Illegal activity ❌ Defects and structural faults ❌ Earth movement
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.
Buy online and save up to 20% on a contents insurance policy with Australian Seniors.
Offer applies to new policies bought online. Discount is made up of a 10% online discount for the first year, and a further 10% if you hold a Seniors Card or 5% for non-card holders over the age of 50. T&Cs apply.
Other questions you might have about contents insurance
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.
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.
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.
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.
A. If you live in the 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.
A. You can buy contents insurance online or by contacting an insurer over the phone.
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.
You won't be covered for general wear and tear or poor maintenance
You won't be covered for the fish
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.
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.
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.
Nicola Middlemiss is a senior writer at Finder, focusing on all things insurance. She's been a journalist for over five years and has contributed to a wide range of industry publications including Insurance Business, MoneyMag, the Educator, Your Investment Property, Mortgage Professional Australia, and Wealth Professional. She has written over a thousand articles covering the insurance industry and now uses that insight to help Australian consumers understand their own insurance policies, and make smarter decisions. Nicola has a Tier 1 General Insurance (General Advice) certification and a Bachelor's degree from the University of Leeds.
How likely would you be to recommend finder to a friend or colleague?
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Very UnlikelyExtremely Likely
Required
Thank you for your feedback.
Our goal is to create the best possible product, and your thoughts, ideas and suggestions play a major role in helping us identify opportunities to improve.
Important information about this website
finder.com.au is one of Australia's leading comparison websites. We compare from a wide set of banks, insurers and product issuers. We value our editorial independence and follow editorial guidelines.
finder.com.au has access to track details from the product issuers listed on our sites. Although we provide information on the products offered by a wide range of issuers, we don't cover every available product or service.
Please note that the information published on our site should not be construed as personal advice and does not consider your personal needs and circumstances. While our site will provide you with factual information and general advice to help you make better decisions, it isn't a substitute for professional advice. You should consider whether the products or services featured on our site are appropriate for your needs. If you're unsure about anything, seek professional advice before you apply for any product or commit to any plan.
Products marked as 'Promoted' or 'Advertisement' are prominently displayed either as a result of a commercial advertising arrangement or to highlight a particular product, provider or feature. Finder may receive remuneration from the Provider if you click on the related link, purchase or enquire about the product. Finder's decision to show a 'promoted' product is neither a recommendation that the product is appropriate for you nor an indication that the product is the best in its category. We encourage you to use the tools and information we provide to compare your options.
Where our site links to particular products or displays 'Go to site' buttons, we may receive a commission, referral fee or payment when you click on those buttons or apply for a product. You can learn more about how we make money here.
When products are grouped in a table or list, the order in which they are initially sorted may be influenced by a range of factors including price, fees and discounts; commercial partnerships; product features; and brand popularity. We provide tools so you can sort and filter these lists to highlight features that matter to you.
We try to take an open and transparent approach and provide a broad-based comparison service. However, you should be aware that while we are an independently owned service, our comparison service does not include all providers or all products available in the market.
Some product issuers may provide products or offer services through multiple brands, associated companies or different labelling arrangements. This can make it difficult for consumers to compare alternatives or identify the companies behind the products. However, we aim to provide information to enable consumers to understand these issues.
Providing or obtaining an estimated insurance quote through us does not guarantee you can get the insurance. Acceptance by insurance companies is based on things like occupation, health and lifestyle. By providing you with the ability to apply for a credit card or loan, we are not guaranteeing that your application will be approved. Your application for credit products is subject to the Provider's terms and conditions as well as their application and lending criteria.
Please read our website terms of use and privacy policy for more information about our services and our approach to privacy.
Australian Seniors Home Insurance Deals
Budget Direct Home Insurance Deals
Qantas Home Insurance Deals
Westpac Home Insurance Deal
St.George Home Insurance Deals
Virgin Home Insurance Deals
Domain Insure Home Insurance Deals
Real Home Insurance Deal
