Hurricane deductible calculator
Hurricane, named-storm and wind/hail deductibles are often a percentage, and the percentage is usually taken from your dwelling coverage limit (Coverage A on your declarations page), not from the size of the damage. Enter your numbers to see the deductible in dollars and how a claim would split.
The same policy at other percentages
| Deductible | You pay first | Insurer pays (on your damage) |
|---|---|---|
| 2% | $8,000 | — |
What this calculator leaves out
- Which events trigger the percentage deductible (a named storm, a hurricane watch or warning, any wind or hail). The wording is in your policy and differs by insurer and state.
- Whether the deductible applies once per hurricane season or per storm.
- Your other limits and deductibles: other structures, belongings and living expenses have their own limits, and damage from other causes, like a kitchen fire, has its own deductible, often a flat dollar amount.
- A dollar cap. A few policies write the deductible as a percentage "or $X, whichever is less"; this calculator applies only a minimum.
- Flood damage, which needs a separate flood policy with its own deductible. See FloodHawk for flood insurance.
The rules for these deductibles, with each state's limits, are in our hurricane deductible guide.
Questions people ask
Is a hurricane deductible a percentage of the claim or of the home's value?
Usually of the home's insured value: your dwelling coverage limit (Coverage A). A 2% deductible on $400,000 of dwelling coverage is $8,000 no matter how big or small the damage is. Some policies state the deductible in dollars instead, or as a percentage with a dollar minimum.
What does "2% or $500, whichever is greater" mean?
Work out 2% of your dwelling coverage and compare it with $500; the larger one is your deductible. On $400,000 of coverage, 2% is $8,000, so the deductible is $8,000. Enter the minimum in the calculator's "minimum" field to apply it.
Can the insurer pay more than my dwelling limit?
Not under Coverage A itself: the dwelling limit is the most the policy pays to repair or rebuild the house, so very large damage can leave you paying the deductible plus everything above the limit (exactly how the deductible and the limit combine depends on the policy wording). Some policies add extended or guaranteed replacement cost; check your declarations page.
Do I pay the hurricane deductible for every storm?
It depends on your policy: NAIC says it can be per event, per season or per calendar year. In Florida, the law makes it a calendar-year deductible for homeowners policies. Details are in our hurricane deductible guide.
This calculator does simple math in your browser. Your numbers are kept only in this browser (so they're there next time) and in a link if you copy one; nothing is sent to us. It's an estimate, not a claim decision: your insurer applies the policy's actual terms.