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How do I estimate the replacement cost of my home for insurance?

I’m buying a new home and deciding how much home insurance I should purchase. I want to estimate how much replacement coverage I should get since my mortgage requires me to purchase 80% of the replacement cost. What’s the best way to estimate the replacement cost of my home for insurance?

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Anthony William · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
Congrats on buying a new home! The process can be stressful, but it’s worth it in the end.
The best way to estimate the replacement cost of your home for insurance is to add the cost of replacing your home’s materials with labor cost estimates. Or, if you know your area’s average per-foot rebuilding cost, you can multiply that number by your home’s square footage. If you’re looking for something easier, consider using an online calculator or speaking with an insurance adjuster.
It’s important to choose the correct replacement cost of your home for
home insurance
to avoid having to pay out of pocket should a covered peril damage your home. For example, if the replacement cost of your home is $200,000, but you only purchase $150,000 in coverage, you’d be responsible for the additional $50,000.
Once you have an estimate of your replacement cost, you can begin requesting quotes from home insurance companies.
If you’d rather leave the hard work of gathering quotes to someone else, use
Jerry
. The Jerry app can collect quotes from top insurance companies, like Berkshire, State Auto, Safeco, and Travelers, in seconds.
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WHY YOU CAN TRUST JERRY
Jerry partners with more than 50 insurance companies, but our content is independently researched, written, and fact-checked by our team of editors and agents. We aren’t paid for reviews or other content.

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