Renters · Updated October 2026
Your landlord's insurance covers the building and the landlord's liability. It does not cover your belongings, your liability, or your hotel bill if the apartment becomes unlivable. That is what renters insurance is for.
Walk through your place room by room and estimate what it would cost to replace everything new:
Many people land between $20,000 and $50,000 once they count everything. Choose a limit that covers your total.
A five-year-old couch and a three-year-old laptop are worth far less used than new. Replacement cost usually costs a little more and pays far better.
Renters liability covers injuries to guests and damage you accidentally cause, such as a kitchen fire that spreads to a neighbor's unit or an overflowing bathtub that soaks the apartment below. Limits commonly start at $100,000. Many landlords require at least that amount. If you have savings or a good income, $300,000 is often worth pricing.
If a fire or burst pipe makes your apartment unlivable, loss of use (additional living expense) pays for a hotel and extra costs while repairs are made. Most policies set this as a percentage of your personal property limit.
Common choices are $500 or $1,000. Pick an amount you could pay without hardship.
Adding renters insurance to your auto policy can earn a multi-policy discount with many companies, which sometimes offsets much of the renters premium. We can price it both ways.
| Room | Typical items | Rough replacement cost |
|---|---|---|
| Living room | Couch, TV, gaming system, rug, lamps | $4,000–$8,000 |
| Bedroom | Bed, mattress, dresser, clothing, shoes | $5,000–$12,000 |
| Kitchen | Dishes, cookware, small appliances | $1,500–$3,000 |
| Office | Laptop, monitor, desk, chair | $2,000–$4,000 |
| Other | Bike, tools, sports gear | $1,000–$3,000 |
Your numbers will differ, but the exercise usually surprises people. Clothing alone often runs into thousands.
Most renters policies cover the named insured and household relatives. An unrelated roommate usually needs their own policy. Couples who aren't married should ask whether both can be named on one policy.
Enough personal property coverage to replace everything you own, plus liability of at least $100,000.
No. It covers the building, not your belongings or your liability.
Usually. It pays to buy new items rather than paying depreciated value.
With many companies, bundling renters and auto earns a multi-policy discount.
Questions about your own situation? Call 417.206.3733 or send us your current policy. We are licensed in Missouri, Kansas and Oklahoma, and you can buy by phone without coming in.
Or send your details and an agent will call you back with options from the companies we work with.