How much is renters insurance in Washington State?
Renters insurance is the cheapest policy most people will ever buy, and the one they most often skip. Here is what it actually costs in Washington, and the two things a Washington policy does not cover.
The short answer
Most Washington renters pay between about $12 and $23 a month for renters insurance. The latest statewide average from the NAIC, the association of state insurance regulators, is $162 a year, about $13.50 a month, slightly below the national average of $171.
What moves the price is how much you insure, your deductible, your liability limit, the building and its ZIP code, and your claims history. Bundling it with car insurance often costs less than buying it alone.
The gap to check in Washington is what the policy leaves out. Standard renters policies exclude earthquakes and floods, and your landlord's insurance covers the building, not your belongings. Earthquake coverage can be added to a renters policy.
NAIC data via the Insurance Information Institute
Office of the Insurance Commissioner — How renter insurance works
Office of the Insurance Commissioner — Earthquake insurance
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How much does renters insurance cost in Washington?
Between about $12 and $23 a month for a typical policy. The NAIC's statewide average is $162 a year, roughly $13.50 a month, and Washington sits close to the middle of the country. Your own number depends on how much you insure and where you live, so treat the average as a starting point, not a quote.
What does renters insurance cost in Washington cities?
City differences are small for renters insurance, much smaller than for car insurance. These are 2026 averages for the same coverage everywhere: $20,000 of personal property, $100,000 of liability and a $500 deductible. Spokane comes in lowest, and the west-side cities sit within a few dollars of each other.
| City | Average per year | About per month |
|---|---|---|
| Spokane | $139 | $12 |
| Seattle | $153 | $13 |
| Bellevue | $153 | $13 |
| Tacoma | $156 | $13 |
| Vancouver | $156 | $13 |
| Everett | $156 | $13 |
Source: MoneyGeek, updated October 1, 2026. Other surveys put city averages higher, at $20 to $23 a month in Auburn and Tacoma; each survey prices a different amount of coverage, so compare the coverage, not just the number.
Where we write it
Most of our renters policies are written in Tacoma and around our Auburn office, and we write them anywhere in the state.
What makes renters insurance cost more or less?
Five things do most of the work. The amount of personal property you insure, the deductible you choose, your liability limit, the building and its ZIP code, and whether you have filed claims before. Each one moves the price a little; together they explain why two neighbors pay different amounts.
- Personal property amount. Insure what it would cost to replace your things, not a round number.
- Deductible. A higher deductible lowers the premium, but only choose one you could pay tomorrow.
- Liability limit. $100,000 is common; going higher usually costs little.
- Bundling. Adding it to a car policy often brings the total down.
Offices in Tacoma and Auburn · Serving all of Washington · English and Spanish
What does a Washington renters policy not cover?
According to the Office of the Insurance Commissioner, standard renters policies typically exclude damage from earthquakes, floods, landslides and sinkholes. Your car is not covered either. And your landlord's policy only covers the building, so without your own policy your belongings and your liability are not covered at all.
Earthquakes are the gap to check here
Western Washington sits on active faults, and a standard renters policy will not pay for earthquake damage. The Commissioner notes you can add earthquake coverage to a renters policy, usually with a deductible of 10% to 25%. Ask what it adds before you decide; for many renters it is a small amount.
Which renters insurance is best in Washington?
There isn't one carrier that wins for every renter. The same apartment can be priced very differently by six companies, so the useful answer is the cheapest policy that covers what you own, with a liability limit your lease accepts. These are the four things to check before you compare prices.
- Replacement cost, not actual cash value. The Commissioner notes renters policies usually pay actual cash value, which subtracts depreciation. Replacement cost pays what it costs to buy the item new.
- Liability that fits your lease. Check what your landlord requires before you choose a limit.
- Loss of use. It pays for a place to stay if your unit becomes unlivable after a covered loss.
- An earthquake endorsement if you live on the west side of the state.
How do you get a renters insurance quote?
With three details: your name, the address you rent and your date of birth. We quote six carriers, show you the cheapest that covers what you need, and send the certificate to your landlord the same day. If you are thinking about buying instead, the policy changes completely, and we explain it in our guide for first-time buyers.
Start on our renters insurance page, try the insurance cost calculator or ask for a free quote. If you rent out a house yourself, read landlord insurance vs. homeowners insurance; if you are about to buy, first-time home buyer insurance.
Frequently asked questions
How much is renters insurance in Washington per month?
Most Washington renters pay between about $12 and $23 a month. The NAIC's statewide average is $162 a year, about $13.50 a month, and the price moves with your city, your deductible and how much you insure.
Is renters insurance required in Washington?
Not by state law. Many leases require it, though, often with a minimum amount of liability, and the landlord can ask for a certificate that names them before you move in.
Does renters insurance cover earthquakes in Washington?
Not on a standard policy. The Insurance Commissioner says earthquake damage is typically excluded, but earthquake coverage can be added to a renters policy, usually with a deductible of 10% to 25%.
Does renters insurance cover flood damage?
No. Floods, landslides and sinkholes are typically excluded from standard renters policies. Water from inside the building, like a burst pipe, is a different thing and is normally covered.
What deductible should I choose for renters insurance?
One you could pay tomorrow without stress. A higher deductible lowers the premium, but on a policy this cheap the savings are small, so most renters are better off with a deductible they can actually cover.
Keep reading
Sources
- Insurance Information Institute, from NAIC data — Average premiums for homeowners and renters insurance by state, 2022.
- Washington State Office of the Insurance Commissioner — How renter insurance works.
- Washington State Office of the Insurance Commissioner — Earthquake insurance.
- MoneyGeek — Best cheap renters insurance in Washington (updated October 1, 2026; $20,000 personal property, $100,000 liability, $500 deductible).
This article is general information about insurance in the state of Washington. It is not legal advice and it is not an offer of coverage. Whether a policy covers a given loss depends on its own wording, its endorsements and its exclusions; read yours, or send it to us and we will read it with you. Anel Galicia is a licensed insurance producer in the state of Washington.