Best Homeowners Insurance: 10 Companies to Compare in 2026

A low premium is a welcome number. It is less welcome if the roof claim comes with a deductible you cannot afford.

The best homeowners insurance matches the cost of rebuilding your house, the risks around it and the money you can keep in reserve. This guide compares 10 companies by useful policy features and questions to ask before buying. It does not declare a universal cheapest insurer: PropertyNest has not collected a comparable 2026 quote sample for these companies.

For a New York homeowner, start with rebuilding cost, coastal wind deductibles and the difference between a burst pipe, sewer backup and flooding. The three can leave the same wet floor but trigger different coverage decisions.

10 Homeowners Insurance Companies to Compare

• Allstate: agent-assisted coverage choices.
• Lemonade: an app-centered buying and claims process.
• Liberty Mutual: equipment, service-line and belongings options.
• Chubb: rebuilding and settlement options for high-value homes.
• State Farm: local-agent support and annual coverage reviews.
• Farmers: targeted endorsements for gaps in a basic policy.
• Erie: guaranteed replacement cost, where available.
• Progressive: comparing insurers through HomeQuote Explorer.
• Amica: broader coverage and optional dividend policies.
• Nationwide: optional replacement-cost and roof upgrades.

These are editorial comparison categories, not test scores or a premium ranking. Availability, underwriting and coverage depend on the address and policy. Quote cards may display advertised starting prices or service areas; neither guarantees an offer for your home.

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Allstate: Agent-Assisted Coverage Choices

Allstate offers the familiar building, belongings, liability and additional-living-expense coverages, with options to tailor a quote. An agent can be useful when an older house or a recent renovation makes the application more complicated.

Our editorial reason to compare it is that assisted shopping process. It is not evidence that Allstate will be cheapest. Request the roof settlement terms, water-backup options and all deductibles in writing. Medical payments to guests are a common part of homeowners coverage, not an unusual premium perk.

Read our Allstate homeowners insurance review for more questions to take into a quote.

Lemonade: An App-Centered Experience

Lemonade lets customers quote, manage a policy and submit claims digitally. That makes it worth comparing if you are comfortable handling insurance on a phone.

The company advertises homeowners coverage starting at $25 a month. That is an advertised minimum, not a PropertyNest average, and it does not promise particular dwelling, belongings or liability limits. Your address and selected coverage determine the offer.

Digital submission also does not mean every claim is paid instantly. Approval, documentation, policy terms and deductibles still matter. Veterinary bills require separate pet coverage; a homeowners policy is not pet health insurance.

See our Lemonade home insurance review.

Liberty Mutual: Options for Home Systems and Belongings

Liberty Mutual lists optional service-line, equipment-breakdown and water-backup protections. Those are useful items to price when a standard policy leaves a homeowner exposed to particular repair costs.

Its personal-property replacement-cost option is separate from basic actual-cash-value settlement. Ask how depreciation is recovered and what receipts are required. Blanket jewelry coverage also has its own terms; confirm the limit before assuming a collection is fully insured.

PropertyNest has no matched quote sample establishing Liberty Mutual as the cheapest provider. Compare the entire package, including deductibles and endorsements.

Read our Liberty Mutual home insurance review.

Chubb: Rebuilding and Settlement Options

A house with custom millwork or unusual finishes may be expensive to reproduce even when its market price falls. Chubb is worth comparing for its approach to that rebuilding problem.

Its homeowners offering describes extended replacement cost and a cash-settlement option after a covered total loss if the owner chooses not to rebuild, subject to policy terms and limits. The settlement choice is different from a promise of unlimited cash.

Ask an agent to explain both options using your own rebuilding estimate. Valuable collections, flood insurance and excess liability are separate coverage decisions. This is a coverage-focused comparison, not a finding that Chubb has the lowest premium.

State Farm: Local-Agent Support

State Farm combines online quoting with local agents. That can be helpful when you want someone to review a roof replacement, addition or change in how the home is used.

Its coverage guidance describes inflation adjustments, but that does not justify assuming every policy includes a free, automatic 20% rebuilding extension. Ask for the actual additional-limit endorsement and its conditions.

Review the replacement-cost estimate each renewal. A percentage increase based on yesterday's estimate can still leave an unusual house underinsured. New-policy availability must be checked for the property.

See our State Farm homeowners insurance review.

Farmers: Targeted Coverage Additions

Farmers offers agents and online quoting, with coverage choices that merit a closer look beyond the initial price.

Its coverage guide describes options for water backup, valuable items and matching undamaged property. Matching coverage addresses a practical question: if a covered loss damages part of the siding, what happens when replacement panels do not match the rest?

Ask which endorsements are included in your quote, which cost extra and how their limits apply. Agent access is useful, but it does not establish a measured claim-service advantage or make Farmers the cheapest or most expensive choice.

See our Farmers homeowners insurance review.

Erie: Guaranteed Replacement Cost Where Available

Erie highlights guaranteed replacement cost for eligible homes. The distinction matters when rebuilding costs exceed the dwelling limit after a covered loss.

There are conditions. Erie says the feature is not available with every policy or in every state and requires home improvements over $5,000 to be reported within 90 days. Ask an agent for the provision that applies to your house and the precise reporting requirement.

Do not extend that promise to every possession or type of damage. A dwelling rebuilding feature does not erase exclusions, special limits or deductibles. Confirm availability for the address before spending time on a detailed application.

Progressive: Comparing a Network of Insurers

Progressive HomeQuote Explorer provides a way to compare home insurance offers. The important name is the insurer on the proposed policy, not just the brand at the top of the quote screen.

Progressive places home policies with affiliated and unaffiliated insurers. Each insurer is responsible for claims on its policies; prices, coverage and service arrangements vary.

Record the issuing company, claim contact and endorsements before deciding. A lower quote is meaningful only when the limits and settlement terms are comparable. Progressive's coverage guide does not treat floods, landslides, mudslides or sinkholes as standard covered losses. Discuss those risks separately.

Amica: Broader Coverage and Dividend Options

Amica offers standard and broader coverage choices. Its Platinum Choice description includes protection up to 30% above the dwelling limit and higher limits for certain valuables, subject to the policy offered.

Amica also offers dividend policies. A potential dividend should be treated as conditional: it is not guaranteed, availability varies, and a policy that ends before its full term is not eligible for a declared payment.

Compare the upfront premium with the non-dividend alternative. Budget for what you owe now, then evaluate any potential return separately. Broader coverage and a possible dividend are distinct decisions, not a promise that every Amica customer receives both.

Nationwide: Optional Replacement-Cost Upgrades

Nationwide lists Brand New Belongings and Better Roof Replacement as optional features. They should appear in a quote before you rely on them.

Brand New Belongings concerns repair or replacement of covered personal property without a depreciation deduction, subject to its terms. Better Roof Replacement can provide stronger roofing materials following a covered loss. Neither means that an aging roof or a worn-out appliance is automatically replaced.

Ask about dwelling replacement-cost options, water backup and equipment breakdown too. The comparison should show the price and limit of each addition. Flood coverage is a separate policy, not a benefit silently included in the standard homeowners premium.

Compare the Policy Features That Matter

Use these differences to build a shortlist. They are reasons to request a quote, not a ranking of financial strength, customer satisfaction or price.

Find Homeowners Insurance Guidance for Your State

Insurance availability, wind exposure and policy rules vary locally. Use the state guides below as a starting point, then confirm a current offer for your address. New York readers can also compare our New York homeowners insurance guide and home insurance cost analysis.

What Does Homeowners Insurance Cost?

PropertyNest Data uses the NAIC's 2023 homeowners report, published in 2026, as a historical benchmark. The average annual HO-3 premium was $1,737 nationally and $1,801 in New York. The monthly equivalents are $144.75 and $150.08, calculated by dividing by 12.

These are observed premiums across different homes and coverage amounts. They are not 2026 quotes, a forecast or a PropertyNest quote sample. A new offer can differ substantially because of rebuilding costs, location, roof condition, claims history and selected deductibles.

Is Homeowners Insurance Required?

Homeowners insurance is generally not mandated by law, but a mortgage lender typically requires it. Check the mortgage agreement and any separate flood requirement before closing. Paying off the loan does not make the risk of a fire disappear; it changes who requires the policy.

The NAIC consumer guide explains why lenders require coverage and why homeowners also need protection for belongings and liability.

What Does Homeowners Insurance Cover?

A typical owner-occupied policy has six main coverage categories. A limit is the most the contract will pay for a particular coverage; it is not the premium you pay to buy it. The declarations page and endorsements determine the amounts.

Are Appliances Covered?

An appliance damaged by a covered fire is a different claim from a refrigerator that simply wears out. Homeowners insurance generally addresses the covered loss; it is not a maintenance plan.

A home warranty is a separate service contract. It may cover specified breakdowns, with service fees, exclusions and payment caps. It does not necessarily cover every appliance. Equipment-breakdown insurance is another product to compare; ask which mechanical failures and equipment are included.

Source: NAIC consumer guide to home insurance.

What Is Usually Excluded?

Flooding and earthquake damage generally require separate coverage. Water-backup protection is another question: a sewer backup endorsement does not turn a homeowners policy into flood insurance. Check wind and hail coverage too, particularly in coastal markets.

Jewelry, artwork and collectibles are not automatically excluded. They may have special limits or narrower protection for certain losses. Ask about scheduling valuable items and whether accidental loss is covered.

Normal deterioration, poor maintenance and intentional damage are different from an insured accident. Home businesses, rentals and animal-related liability also require disclosure and a review of the actual contract. Do not assume all dog bites are excluded—or all are covered.

For New York, start with DFS coverage guidance. For separate policies, see our flood insurance comparison and earthquake coverage guide.

How to Compare Homeowners Insurance Quotes

Ask each company to quote the same house, occupancy, rebuilding estimate, belongings limit, liability limit and deductibles. Keep the effective date consistent. Then compare the annual total, installment fees and endorsements—not just a monthly number in large type.

Use the NAIC shopping worksheet to organize the offers. Request the proposed declarations, coverage forms and exclusions. Write down the issuing insurer's legal name and the contact for a claim. An agency or comparison tool may arrange a policy that another company services.

Do not treat a star score without a dated method as a substitute for that work. If using complaint or financial-strength information, match it to the actual insurer and reporting period. A quote is not proof of coverage: confirm the binder or issued policy and effective date before canceling an existing policy.

Expert Perspective

The following is a previously published contribution from Allen Anderson. It does not establish that he reviewed this update.

How Much Coverage Do You Need?

Start with a rebuilding estimate that reflects local labor, materials and the house's finishes. The sale price includes land and responds to the housing market; the mortgage balance describes a debt. Neither is a reliable substitute for the cost of reconstructing the building.

Then inventory belongings, note expensive items separately, and consider the cost of living elsewhere during major repairs. Our coverage planning guide can help organize those questions.

Replacement Cost and Actual Cash Value

Replacement cost generally uses the cost of repair or a comparable replacement without a depreciation deduction. Actual cash value takes age and wear into account. Limits, deductibles and claim conditions still apply. A replacement-cost provision does not mean an unlimited payout.

For example, a hypothetical $2,000 replacement item with $800 in depreciation and a $500 deductible produces $700 under a simplified actual-cash-value calculation, versus $1,500 under replacement cost. These figures illustrate the arithmetic, not a real claim or a market average. Ask whether depreciation is withheld until repairs or purchases are documented.

Source: NAIC explanation of replacement cost and actual cash value.

Rebuilding Extensions and Liability

Extended replacement cost adds a stated amount above the dwelling limit. Guaranteed replacement cost can address a covered rebuild beyond that limit, subject to its conditions. Read the endorsement rather than inferring protection from the word “replacement.”

Liability coverage addresses covered injuries or damage for which you are legally responsible. An umbrella policy is separate excess liability protection; it is not the name for the liability coverage already inside a homeowners policy. Ask about underlying limits, exclusions and activities such as a pool, home business or rental.

How Deductibles Change Your Out-of-Pocket Cost

A percentage deductible can be much larger than it looks. If the applicable endorsement uses the dwelling limit as its base, multiply that limit by the percentage—not by the repair bill. The illustration below uses $400,000 of dwelling coverage and a $20,000 covered property loss. Actual triggers and settlement rules vary.